Pakistan look for revenge

DAMBULA, July 29: After a 2-0 drubbing at the hands of Sri Lanka, Pakistan will look to take revenge their loss in the five-match ODI series which will kick off at Dambullaon Thursday.
Despite the one-sided nature of the test series, it will be difficult predicting the same result for the ODIs as well. And this has to do with the new-look Pakistani team, which looks pretty balanced on paper. The first game will obviously set the trend, and the visitors will defenitely try to start the series with winning note.

Schumacher returns

ROME, July 29: Michael Schumacher is to sensationally come out of retirement to race for Ferrari in the absence of the injured Felipe Massa.
Seven-times world champion Schumacher, now 40, has not driven competitively since the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix in October 2006.
But Schumacher, who won five of his titles with Ferrari and who has been acting as an advisor to the team of late, will race in the European Grand Prix in Valencia on August 23.
“Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro intends to put Michael Schumacher in Felipe Massa’s car until the Brazilian driver will be able to race again,” Ferrari confirmed in a statement.
“Michael Schumacher said he is ready and, over the next few days, will undertake a specific training programme at the end of which confirmation will be given of his participation in the championship with effect from the European Grand Prix on the 23rd of August.”

ICC should preserve Test cricket: Akram

New Delhi, July 27: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram feels it is for the International Cricket Council (ICC) to preserve the sanctity of Test format.

Akram said the ICC should go ahead with day-night Tests and must ensure that matches are played on sporting tracks to counter the popularity of Twenty20.

“The ICC has to do something with T20. Even cricket boards are running after it because it fetches them millions. Twenty20 and one-day cricket are fun but Test cricket is real. The ICC should do something to preserve Tests,” Akram told reporters here on Monday. Akram feels Twenty20 is “just a phase in international cricket, which will pass soon without harming Tests.”
“Cricket started with Tests, so how can it end? Every aspiring cricketer in the world wants to play Tests. Twenty20 will take over the 50 overs game, but it can’t hurt Test cricket,” he said. On ICC chief David Morgan’s proposed four-day Test, Wasim said: “If you have a four-day Test, there are more chances of it ending in a draw. Why will spectators come to watch a dull and drab drawn Test? The ICC, instead, should ensure that Test wickets are sporting and result-oriented.”

The 43-year-old former left-arm fast bowler also disagreed with ex-South African tearaway Allan Donald on legalising ball-tampering. “I don’t know why Donald said that. Ball-tampering is illegal and I am with the ICC on the issue. If you legalise ball-tampering, then bowlers will start doing it from the first over. Ball-tampering is an art and you can only do it after 40-50 overs in Test cricket. It is not possible in ODIs and T20s,” said Akram, who was one of the Pakistani fast bowlers once accused of ball-tampering. (IANS)

Haas eyes treble Safin closes in on retirement

LOS ANGELES, July 26: Tommy Haas will bid for a Los Angeles Open title hat-trick from Monday while soon-to-retire Russian Marat Safin ticks off another tournament box in his season-long farewell to the game.

Wimbledon semi-finalist Haas will have it all to play for after his solid showing final four at the All England club.

The 31-year-old will try to back up titles here from 2004 and 2006 after losing in a first-round shock at UCLA a year ago to American Donald Young.
Haas rested after Wimbledon and has had three clear weeks to get ready for the summer hard court season.

Former world number one Safin, 29, will retire at the end of the year and has little to show for a final season.

The mercurial Russian, whose brilliance has led him to a pair of Grand Slam titles, is struggling as his motivation slumps after a decade and a half on the tour. But the eighth-seeded crowd-pleaser, who first played the event in 2001 and reached the quarter-finals last summer, may find his competitive juices again as he faces off in a Monday night exhibition against Pete Sampras, a repeat of the 2000 US Open final won by the then-newcomer Russian.

While he won’t say exactly what his new plans are for a post-tennis future, Safin knows he doesn't want to continue in the game.

“Throughout the years, you have to live with tennis 24/7. There is no way you're going to leave and for days relax and not think about it. Sooner or later you're going to think about tennis,” he complained. (Agencies)

India must decide its priorities: Gary Kirsten

Johannesburg, July 26: There are trends developing in world cricket that are of concern to the future of the game, including in India, Indian coach Gary Kirsten said here, saying Team India has to decide its priorities in terms of test cricket and other forms of the game, like T20.
Kirsten was speaking on Saturday at a gathering here organised by the Indian mission here for local and visiting captains of business and industry who had attended the Doing Business with India Conference.

New Zealand cut test match to play IPL

major crisis in New Zealand cricket was averted when six of the country's leading players agreed to sign new contracts with the cricket board, but only after they were assured of playing a major part in the Indian Premier League, a newspaper report said here today.

Daniel Vettori, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor, who were among the 20 players who signed contracts with NZC yesterday, can play in the IPL for at least three weeks as Australia's Test tour of New Zealand has been cut short to two matches from three.

The move will also benefit the Australians contracted to the franchisees for the March 12 to April 25 IPL-III, the 'Dominion Post' reported.

It means that McCullum, for example, can still earn USD 350,000 for playing three weeks in the IPL.

"A crisis was averted after a draft copy of the schedule showed stumps will be pulled on March 31, effectively turning the traditional end-of-summer six-week tour into a furious month-long experience comprising just two Tests," the newspaper said.

"The first Test will be held at the Basin Reserve in Wellington from March 19-23 and the second in Hamilton from March 27-31. After that, the star players will high-tail it to India to play the final three weeks of the six-week IPL," the report said.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justine Vaughan refused to admit that Test cricket has been sacrificed by this move but said it was difficult to spin the schedule around.

"This summer we have three home Tests against Pakistan and Tests against Bangladesh. We are not going to be short of Test cricket, but I agree three Tests against Australia is what you aim for.

"This year we get the squeeze. Hopefully, it is a one-off aberration, we'd hate to see the IPL move into March on a regular basis," Vaughan said.

Australia are hosting the West Indies until February 23 while the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies starts from April 28.

With the IPL scheduled between March 12 and April 25, New Zealand were only left with the month of March to host Australia.

© PTI

No comebacks for Justin Langer

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Justin Langer isn't thinking about making a Test comeback, despite reports to the contrary in the press today.

In an interview about his passing of Don Bradman to become Australia's leading first-class run scorer, Langer was asked if he would play in next week's third Test if approached.

"I'm certainly not interested in making a Test comeback," Langer was quoted as saying by Cricket Australia's official website.

"There was a bit of a tongue in cheek conversation between myself and Marcus Trescothick in the (Somerset) change-rooms about what it would take for him to play next week with Pietersen injured."

"He said he wasn't interested and the point I was making was as a kid in the backyard all you want to do is play in an Ashes Test. I mean who wouldn't? It's the greatest thing in the world."

"But that was it, it was just a tongue in cheek comment."

Langer, who retired from International Cricket in 2007 after 105 Tests and 7696 runs for Australia, has continued playing for English County side Somerset even after his retirement from Australian domestic cricket in 2008.

Langer, whose comments touched on the role of the English media and the ability to deal with them, said, "One of the things that this relatively inexperienced Australian squad is going to have to deal with is the English media. You're constantly under the spotlight and it's something we found really hard in 2005."

"Not only were England playing really good cricket and public expectation was flowing against us, we also had the constant, relentless battery of the English press to deal with, and it's something that Punter and the boys will have to deal with over the next few weeks."

"I guess that's how the press works over here and that's fine, it's an institution, but there's definitely no chance of me making a comeback for Australia."

© Cricbuzz

Sangakkara ranked no 1 in Tests

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Gautam Gambhir's stay at the top of the ICC rankings for Test batsmen lasted just 10 days as Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara grabbed the coveted position from the Indian opener.

Gambhir had replaced Pakistani run-machine Mohammad Yousuf as the number one Test batsmen on July 15 but Sangakkara's match-saving knock of 130 in the third Test against Pakistan propelled him to the top.

By virtue of his performance in the third and final Test against Pakistan, the 31-year-old Sri Lankan wicket-keeper gained two places to secure the number one position with 862 points while Gambhir dropped to the second place with 847 points.

Apart from Gambhir, no other Indian finds a place in the top-10 chart and the next in the list is Sachin Tendulkar, who dropped a place to find himself in the 15th spot.

Among Indian bowlers, Harbhajan Singh has dropped a spot to the sixth while Zaheer Khan gained one rung to be ninth.

South African Dale Steyn leads the bowlers chart, followed by Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan and Aussie pacer Mitchell Johnson.

Meanwhile, there was no change in the top-five of the ICC Player Rankings for Test all-rounders with South African Jacques Kallis still leading the pack, followed by Johnson and New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori.

© PTI

I can't tolerate SRK insulting Gavaskar: Miandad

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New Delhi, Jul 25 (PTI) Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad has lashed out at Bollywood Superstar Shah Rukh Khan for his "verbal volleys" at Sunil Gavaskar on multiple captain theory prior to the start of IPL-II.Shah Rukh had backed his Kolkata Knight Riders' coach John Buchanan's multiple captain idea and had criticised Gavaskar for his remarks against the Australian's coaching method.And Miandad, paying tribute to Gavaskar on the occasion of his 60th birthday, wondered if the legendary batsman was yet to win the respect of his "rich and famous" compatriots despite his contributions to the country."It happened before the Indian Premier League-2 got under way in South Africa, but it still rankles me. I simply cannot tolerate the insult Shah Rukh Khan heaped on our icon," Miandad wrote in a book compiled by veteran journalist Debashish Dutta."Even my fellow cricketers in Pakistan were shocked...

PTI

Ganguly captain, Wright coach of KKR in 2010

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Kolkata, Jul 25 (PTI) Sourav Ganguly is almost certain to be reinstated as the captain while John Wright is likely to take over as the coach of Kolkata Knight Riders in the third edition of the Indian Premier League in 2010, team sources said today.

Even as an official announcement is awaited, sources said that there could be a major reshuffle with former India coach Wright likely to replace John Buchanan as Knight Riders coach, while former Australian middle-order batsman Michael Bevan will be in the coaching panel.

Sources said Ganguly would be back at the helm in 2010 when his contract with the Kolkata team ends and the iconic Bengal cricketer had a one-on-one with prinicipal owner Shah Rukh Khan when the duo met in London to receive doctorates by the University of Central Lancashire last week.

PTI

Randhawa, Chowrasia miss cut at SAS Masters

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Malmo (Sweden), July 25 (PTI) The Indian challenge at the European Tour's SAS Masters golf tournament came to an abrupt end after both Jyoti Randhawa (77) and SSP Chowrasia (72) missed the halfway cut here.

While Randhawa stuttered to a four-over 77, Chowrasia was only slightly better with a one-under 72 in the second round here.

Chowrasia, who carded an 82 yesterday, and Randhawa were way down the cut line which was decided at 148.

Overnight tied 36th, Randhawa dropped a bogey on the first hole followed by another on the eighth hole to take the turn at two-over.

He tried to make amends by stroking in a birdie on the 10th, but a bogey on the 15th hole brought him back to square one.

Federer becomes father of twin girls

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GENEVA: Roger Federer is the father of twin girls after his wife Mirka gave birth on Thursday. More Pictures


In a statement released on his personal Web site and Facebook page, tennis' world No. 1 said the girls had been named Charlene Riva and Myla Rose.

"I have some exciting news to share with you," Federer's Facebook page said.

"Late last night, in Switzerland, Mirka and I became proud parents of twin girls.

"We named them Myla Rose and Charlene Riva and they are both healthy and along with their mother they are doing great.

"This is the best day of our lives." It was the first children for the couple, who were married in April.

Earlier this month, Mirka sat courtside through the nerve-wracking Wimbledon final in which Federer beat American Andy Roddick 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14 to clinch his 15th grand slam title, breaking the previous record held by Pete Sampras.

The 27-year-old Federer met his wife-to-be - born Miroslava Vavrinec in Slovakia - in 2000 when they were competing for Switzerland in the Sydney Olympic Games.

Mirka, 31, emigrated with her family to Switzerland as a small child, and after playing on the WTA Tour and retiring prematurely due to injury, she became one of Federer's managers.

TOI

Sania in semis of Lexington Challenger event

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NEW DELHI: Preparing herself for the gruelling hard court season ahead, Sania Mirza advanced to the semi-finals of the $50,000 ITF Challenger tournament in Lexington, USA, after Lindsay Lee-Waters withdrew from the contest, on Saturday.

The second seed Indian was leading 5-2 in the first set when her American opponent opted out of quarter-final contest.

Sania will next meet sixth seeded Chinese Meg Yhuan, ranked 195th, who defeated American fourth seed Madison Brengle 6-3, 6-3 in another quarter-final match.

TOI

Constant format switches hurting consistency: Gambhir

CHENNAI, July 23: A packed international schedule and constant shifting between three formats has made it difficult for top players to maintain a consistent level, India opener Gautam Gambhir said.

“It’s difficult to consistently perform for anyone because we play so much of cricket, that too in changing format(s),” Gambhir is quoted as saying.

After a prolific spell with the bat in the last 12 months, the 27-year-old left-hander took over as the world's top-ranked Test batsman last week from Pakistan's Mohammad Yousuf.
However, Gambhir’s form dipped at the Twenty20 World Cup in England in June and subsequent One-day series in West Indies just two months after scoring 445 runs in India’s first Test series victory on New Zealand soil for more than four decades. “We played Test cricket just before the IPL (Indian Premier League) which meant a change to the Twenty20 format after just a few days’ gap,” he said. The Twenty20 World Cup followed soon after the conclusion of the IPL season.

“It’s very difficult to change your mindset so quickly and be at the peak of your game,” Gambhir added.

The Delhi batsman said too much cricket was also affecting player performances.
“The more you play, the more you are bound to fail. No one can keep the intensity always.”
India’s next assignment is a triangular One-day series in Sri Lanka in September before the Champions Trophy in South Africa.

“At the moment, I am on complete break and not at all thinking about cricket because I want to be in right frame of mind when I resume the game,” he said.
“You have to be very tough mentally to survive in international cricket.” (PTI)

Magnificent Sangakkara ensures draw

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Kumar Sangakkara hit an unbeaten century to steer Sri Lanka to a draw in the final Test against Pakistan here on Friday and win his first series as captain.

The left-hander made 130 not out as Sri Lanka, faced with a world record target of 492, defied the Pakistani bowlers to finish with 391-4 on the fifth day at the Sinhalese sports club.

The rock solid Sangakarra's 19th Test century featured a fourth-wicket stand of 122 with Thilan Samaraweera (73) and 114 for the unbroken fifth with Angelo Mathews (64 not out).

Sri Lanka clinched the series 2-0, their first at home against Pakistan after five unsuccessful attempts, and provided Sangakkara with a winning start as captain after he took over from Mahela Jayawardene in April.

Sangakkara hung on for nearly seven hours on a placid pitch to frustrate Pakistan's bid to record a face-saving win ahead of the five-match one-day series starting at Dambulla on July 30.

No team has achieved this high a target in the fourth innings to win a Test match. The highest successful chase so far is 418-7 by the West Indies against Australia in Antigua in 2003.

The two teams went into the last session of the match with Sri Lanka needing 154 runs from a possible 38 overs to record a record-breaking win and Pakistan requiring six wickets.

The hosts gave an indication they would prefer to settle for a draw when they made just 76 runs from 26 overs in the two hours after lunch.

The final session, watched by some 3,000 home fans, provided dull cricket from both sides as the batsmen plodded along and the bowlers set defensive fields to ensure the run-rate did not pick up.

Play was finally called off when 15 overs remained with Sri Lanka needing a further 101 runs.

It was the first time in the series that play went into the fifth day after the tourists lost the first Test in four days and the second in three.

Sangakkara and Samaraweera, who resumed the day at 183-3, batted through the morning session to take Sri Lanka to 262 without further loss by lunch.

The pair made a cautious start in the morning, scoring 50 runs in 21 overs before Pakistan captain Younus Khan took the second new ball as soon as it was due in the 81st over.

Samaraweera welcomed the change by driving the first delivery from Umar Gul to the cover fence and executing another perfect off-drive from the last ball of the over.

Sri Lanka suffered a setback soon after lunch when Samaraweera strained a hamstring while taking a single and called for a runner.

The injury did not seem to bother him as he hit the first ball from pace bowler Mohammad Aamer for a boundary, but then was smashed on the helmet by a rising ball later in the same over.

Samaraweera was dismissed in the following over when he failed to read a straight ball from off-spinner Saeed Ajmal and nicked an easy catch to wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal.

Scoreboard

Pakistan 1st innings 299 Khurram Manzoor 93, Mohammad Yousuf 90, T. Thushara 5-83

Sri Lanka 1st innings 233 K. Sangakkara 45, M. Jayawardene 79, D. Kaneria 5-62

Pakistan 2nd innings 425-9 decl Shoaib Malik 134, Kamran Akmal 74, R. Herath 5-157

Sri Lanka 2nd innings

T. Paranavitana c Alam b Malik 73
M. Warnapura c Malik b Kaneria 31
K. Sangakkara not out 130
M. Jayawardene c Akmal b Kaneria 2
T. Samaraweera c Akmal b Ajmal 73
A. Mathews not out 64
Extras b1, lb7, nb9, w1 18
Total for 4 wkts 391

Fall of wkts 1-83, 2-139, 3-155, 4-277

Bowling
Gul 12-0-65-0 (nb5), Aamer 21-5-46-0 (nb1), Younus 8-0-25-0 (w1), Ajmal 43-9-95-1, Malik 14-1-38-1 (nb3), Kaneria 36-3-114-2

Cricbuzz

AIFF-Bharti academy on hold for now: Patel

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NEW DELHI: The ambitious AIFF-Bharti Academy, first proposed to be established in Goa and then in Haryana, is on hold "for the time being", national football federation acting chief Praful Patel said on Wednesday.

The academy, for which Bharti Airtel had to pump in Rs 100 crore, was to be established in Goa but a land dispute and tussle between two ministers in the state government led to the project being rendered a non-starter.

Later, it was proposed to be shifted to Haryana but Patel said the assurance given by the north Indian state government turned out to be an "oral promise".

"The academy was to come up in Goa but a land dispute arose and Bharti agreed to shift it to Haryana. But again the Haryana government could not give us land required for the academy," Patel said after an emergency committee meeting of the AIFF.

"It turned out that the earlier assurance given (by Haryana government) was an oral promise," he added.

Patel said he had requested Bharti not to scrap the project as the academy "can come up as and when the land is available".

"I had interactions with Bharti people recently and I had requested them not to lose interest in the academy. They have assured me they are for the project as and when land is available," Patel assured.

"I am still speaking to the Goa government to sort out the land issue. It is Goa which is going to lose out a state-of-the-art academy on account of petty issues," he said.

"I had interactions with Bharti people recently and I had requested them not to lose interest in the academy. They have assured me they are for the project as and when land is available," Patel assured.

"I am still speaking to the Goa government to sort out the land issue. It is Goa which is going to lose out a state-of-the-art academy on account of petty issues," he said.

TOI

Hodge left out as Australia name CT squad

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Melbourne, July 23 (PTI) With a view to build a team for the 2011 World Cup, Australian selectors today included three new faces while leaving out batsman Brad Hodge in the preliminary squad of 30 for the ICC Champions Trophy to be held in September in South Africa.

Tasmania wicketkeeper Tim Paine, Victoria spinner Jon Holland and New South Wales all-rounder Moises Henriques figured in the probables' list for the September 22 to October 5 tournament. The squad must be trimmed to 15 players by August 23.

The squad does not include controversial all-rounder Andrew Symonds, who was sent back home from England on disciplinary grounds just before the start of Twenty20 World Cup besides scrapping his Cricket Australia contract.

Fast bowler Brett Lee, who suffered a side-strain injury just before the first Ashes Test, and injury-prone all-rounder Shane Watson also made the cut

Sri Lanka face record chase to win final Test vs Pak

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Colombo, July 23 (AFP) Sri Lanka will need to set a world record to sweep the Test series against Pakistan 3-0 after the tourists piled up the runs in the final Test here today.

Shoaib Malik made 134 as Pakistan amassed 410-9 in their second innings by lunch on the fourth day at the Sinhalese Sports Club, an overall lead of 476 runs with one wicket in hand.

Pakistan are expected to declare soon after resumption to leave themselves with enough time to bowl Sri Lanka out and earn a consolation win after losing the first two Tests.

The highest successful fourth innings chase in history is by the West Indies, who scored 418-7 to beat Australia at St John's, Antigua in 2003.

The most runs scored in the fourth innings to win a Test at the SSC here is 326-5 by Sri Lanka against Zimbabwe in 1998.

Pietersen out of remaining Ashes Tests after surgery

LONDON: England batsman Kevin Pietersen will miss the remaining three Ashes Tests against Australia after undergoing surgery on his Achilles tendon, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on Wednesday.

Pietersen has struggled with the problem throughout the opening two Tests of the Ashes series and, after being assessed by a leading specialist on Wednesday, it was decided that surgery was the best option.

The 29-year-old has been ruled out for six weeks and he admitted it was massive blow to be sidelined while England, who lead the series 1-0 after winning the second Test at Lord's, try to regain the Ashes.

"As an England cricketer the Ashes are the pinnacle of the game so I'm absolutely devastated to be missing the rest of this series," Pietersen said.

"Up until now the Achilles injury has been manageable but it recently reached the point where we needed to look at other options in terms of treatment.

"I hate missing matches for England and especially during an Ashes summer but now that the decision has been made to undergo surgery I'm confident I can return to the England team injury-free following a course of rehabilitation."

Pietersen, whose top score in the series was just 69, had hoped to play through the pain barrier for the rest of the series, but ECB Chief Medical Officer Nick Peirce admitted it was impossible to expect him to produce top-class performances while he was in so much discomfort.

"Following a consultation, involving scans and testing, with the world's leading Achilles specialist Kevin Pietersen underwent surgery on his right Achilles tendon," Peirce said in an ECB statement.

"Kevin will look to undertake a comprehensive rehabilitation programme to ensure there is no risk of recurrence. This is expected to be approximately six weeks but will be taken at an appropriate pace following constant review.

"Despite conventional conservative treatments to the tendon with trial periods of rest and rehabilitation, Kevin continued to be in significant discomfort and is currently unable to run or even walk comfortably.

"He had a strong desire to get through the Ashes series but despite this he has recently been unable to achieve a maximum level of performance.

"A number of short-term measures were considered but having been reviewed by the specialist, who flew into London from Sweden specifically, it was felt that anything else would put the tendon at risk and jeopardise his long term recovery."

Although Pietersen, who originally suffered the injury against the West Indies earlier this year, played in the 115-run victory over Australia at Lord's, he spent lengthy spells off the field and was clearly in pain when running.

He needed pain-killing injections to get through the match but the problem has got even worse after the heavy wear and tear of a five-day Test.

"I was pleased with the previous course of treatment as it allowed me to take part in this Ashes series but unfortunately the injury has recently deteriorated," Pietersen said.

"To leave a winning dressing room at this time is heartbreaking but it wouldn't be fair to the team or myself to continue given the severity of the injury.

"I'll be supporting the team closely and wish them the best of luck as they look to build on the brilliant win at Lord's and reclaim the Ashes."

Pietersen's absence is a massive blow to England's hopes of holding onto their series lead. Andrew Strauss's side are already keeping their fingers crossed that all-rounder Andrew Flintoff can make it through the rest of the series.

Flintoff is struggling with a knee injury that has forced him to announce his retirement from Test cricket at the end of the Ashes.

Warwickshire batsman Ian Bell is likely to come into contention as one of the main contenders to replace Pietersen.

Soruce:TOi

Sachin top taxpayer among Men in Blue

NEW DELHI: There has been much talk of late about M S Dhoni being more sought after by advertisers than Sachin Tendulkar.


But if payment of income tax is any indicator, the little master is still way ahead of all other Indian cricket stars when it comes to earnings. Dhoni is a distant second, though catching up, in terms of tax paid, while Virender Sehwag is third.

Data on income tax paid by cricketers shows that Sachin has maintained a steady level of over Rs 8 crore for the last three years, 2006-07 to 2008-09. Behind him, there's been a reshuffle in the batting order.

Dhoni has moved up from third spot in 2006-07 to second last year with a Rs 4.7 crore tax bill. Rahul Dravid, who was Sachin's closest competitor in 2006-07 and a close third behind Dhoni in 2007-08, has dropped to fifth spot.

Heaviest Scorers

(Income tax paid in Rs crore and figures in brackets indicate last year's rankings)

Years 2008-09 2007-08
1. Sachin 8.1 8.7 (1)
2. Dhoni 4.7 3.4 (2)
3. Sehwag 3.1 1.9 (5)
4. Yuvraj 2.6 2.0 (4)
5. Dravid 2.4 3.1 (3)

Source:TOI

Pietersen ruled out of rest of Ashes

London, July 22: England’s Ashes hopes suffered a severe blow as Kevin Pietersen was ruled out of the rest of the series following a surgery that rules him out of cricket for six weeks.

“As an England cricketer the Ashes are the pinnacle of the game, so I’m absolutely devastated,” said Pietersen. “Up until now the injury has been manageable but it recently reached the point where we needed to look at other options in terms of treatment. I hate missing matches for England and especially during an Ashes summer but I’m confident I can return to the England team injury-free following a course of rehabilitation,” he was quoted as saying in the English media.

Misbah, Malik boost Pakistan’s lead in final Test

COLOMBO, July 22: Former captain Shoaib Malik hit an unbeaten 106 today to put Pakistan on course for a face-saving victory in the third and final Test against Sri Lanka here.

Pakistan, who lost the first two Tests to hand Sri Lanka a decisive lead in the series, finally flexed their batting muscle to pile up 300-5 in their second innings by stumps on the third day. Kamran Akmal returned unbeaten on 60 after adding 114 for the unbroken sixth wicket with Malik as Pakistan established an overall lead of 366 runs with five wickets in hand.

Strauss leading the way

LONDON, July 16: England captain Andrew Strauss made the most of some poor Australia bowling with a century on the first day of the second Ashes Test here at Lord’s on Thursday.

England at tea were 255 for two with Strauss, who’d won the toss, exactly 100 not out on his Middlesex home ground and Kevin Pietersen unbeaten on 22 as the hosts pursued a first Test win over Australia at Lord’s in 75 years.

Strauss, together with fellow left-handed opener Alastair Cook (95), shared a record-breaking first-wicket stand of 196 before completing his 18th Test century and fourth at Lord's off 178 balls with 15 boundaries.

Mallya seeks salvation in Hungary after heartbreak in Germany

NURBURGRING: Taking positives, and not points, has been the recurring theme in Force India's F1 story so far but chairman Vijay Mallya still manages

It's just a shame that after such a great weekend performance we don't have any points to show for it. But that's motorsport, these incidents happen," Mallya said after the team's heart-wrenching German Grand Prix campaign.

"The next race is only in a couple of weeks so we'll refocus on that and try to finish the job in Hungary," he added.

Force India made all the right noise going into the German Grand Prix with both Adrian Sutil and Giancarlo Fisichella posting top six times in Friday's practice sessions. Sutil sprang another surprise by gate crashing into Q3 and booking himself the seventh slot on the starting grid, his and the team's best position ever.

Sutil's fairytale home race, however, met a sad end. In a repeat of last year's Monaco Grand Prix, Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen crashed with Adrian Sutil's VJM02 which, was exiting the pits after running a fairytale second, claiming the front wing and necessitating an emergency pit-stop that put paid to all point hopes.

Sutil was in tears after last year's Monaco mishap but the young German seemed to have matured this time as he took the setback in stride.

"We shouldn't be that disappointed with this result as we have had a good weekend and the next one will come very soon," Sutil said, putting behind the disappointment.

Recalling the accident, Sutil said, "When I went out of the pit lane I saw Kimi coming on the outside of the corner and I just tried to hold my line but he went to the outside and I touched him and lost part of my front wing.

"That's really when I thought the race was over for the points as I had to come back in," he said.

"Overall I think we've learnt a lot. It's the first time starting in the top 10 and it's a different race up there. It's been a good push for everyone in the team to get some more development so we can finally get some points," Sutil added.

Fisichella too was not overtly gloomy and sounded happy with the pace of the car.

"After the qualifying I had, I thought it would be a difficult race but I really enjoyed it and again got close to the points," said the Italian who finished 11th.

"I think we can be quite happy with this weekend, even if again we didn't get any points. We've taken a step forward and with some more developments coming through I think we could really have some more great races," he said.

SourceZ:TOI

2nd Test: England elect to bat against Australia

LONDON: England captain Andrew Strauss won the toss and chose to bat against Australia in the second Ashes Test at Lord's on Thursday.

England fast bowling all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who announced on Wednesday his intention to retire from Test cricket at the end of this series, was passed fit following a knee injury.

Star England batsman Kevin Pietersen also retained his place despite a longstanding Achilles injury.

England made one change to the side that drew the first Test at Cardiff last week with fast bowler Graham Onions replacing Monty Panesar despite the left-arm spinner's efforts part in a last-wicket stand at Sophia Gardens that denied Australia victory in the opening contest of a five-match series.

Durham quick Onions, who made his Test debut against the West Indies at Lord's earlier in the season, beat county colleague Stephen Harmison for a place in the team as an extra pace bowler.

Ashes-holders Australia were unchanged from the team that played in the first Test.

Australia have not lost a Test at Lord's since 1934.

Teams

England: Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Ravi Bopara, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Matt Prior (wkt), Andrew Flintoff, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Graham Onions, James Anderson

Australia: Phillip Hughes, Simon Katich, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Marcus North, Brad Haddin (wkt), Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus

Umpires: Billy Doctrove (WIS) and Rudi Koertzen (RSA)

TV umpire: Nigel Llong (ENG)

Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)

Soruce:TOI

Gambhir replaces Yousuf to become No. 1 Test batsman

DUBAI: Gautam Gambhir became the number one batsman, replacing Pakistani run-machine Mohammad Yousuf in the latest ICC Test Player rankings issued on Wednesday.

Incidentally, Gambhir reached the top when the ODI batting chart is also led by an Indian, Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Yousuf, who had returned to the batting table last week in number one position after his century in the first Test at Galle, flopped in the second Test to drop to fifth position. Accordingly, Gambhir became the sixth India batsman to lead the batting table in this version of the game.

The 27-year-old left-handed opener is the first Indian batsman after former captain Rahul Dravid to top the batting chart. Dravid had briefly become the number-one batsman after hitting centuries in each innings (110 and 135) of the Kolkata Test against Pakistan in March 2005. Dravid had first achieved the top batting ranking in January 1999 and has been number-one for 36 Tests between 1999 and 2005.

Sachin Tendulkar is the other India batsman in the last 15 years who has topped the batting chart. He first led the table in November 1994 while last time he occupied the number-one position was in August 2002 after the Leeds Test against England. Overall, Tendulkar has been the number-one batsman for 125 Tests between 1994 and 2002.

The other India batsmen to have achieved number-one positions in their careers are Gundappa Viswanath (seven matches in 1975), Sunil Gavaskar (46 matches between 1978-80) and Dilip Vengsarkar (17 matches between 1987-88).

Pakistan captain Younis Khan was able to retain his second position in the Test batting rankings but fell nine points behind Gambhir who, without hitting a ball, has gone ahead of both the Pakistan batsmen for the first time in his 25-Test career in which he has scored 2,271 runs at an average of over 54.

Gambhir's 847 points is relatively low for a number-one position in modern times as usually a batsman nearer to the 900-point mark goes to the top, which reflects that he has benefited from some of the other top batsman being off their peaks.

With only 10 points separating Gambhir from third-placed Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka, the top order is expected to change again, of course depending how the Pakistan and Sri Lanka captains perform in the third and final Test which starts in Colombo from July 20.

The only big movers in the latest rankings are Pakistan opener Fawad Alam, who has entered the table in 52nd position after his 168 on his Test debut, and Bangladesh's Tamim Iqbal whose century in the second innings has helped him rocket 22 places to 62nd spot.

There is also a change at the top of the bowlers' chart for the first time in more than three years with Muttiah Muralitharan handing over the baton to South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn.

Steyn had briefly joined Muralitharan in number-one position after the second Test against India in Ahmedabad in April 2008. However, Steyn had failed to go top of the table on his own after a disappointing third Test in Kanpur.

For Muralitharan, it is the first time that he has dropped to second position since February 2006. This is because he missed both the Tests of the ongoing series due to injury and a player loses one per cent of his ratings for every match he misses.

Source:TOI

Soumyajit, Sathiyan in Indian squad for Asian Jr TT

New Delhi, July 16 (PTI) Promising paddler Soumyajit Ghosh and G Sathiyan have been included in the 16-member Indian squad for the 15th Asian Junior Table Tennis Championship to be held in Jaipur from July 22.

Both Soumyajit and Sathiyan will be competing alongside Raj Mondal and Harmeet Desai in junior (U-18) boys' category, while Ankita Das, Mallika Bhandarkar, Shreya Ghosh and Charvi Kavle will be vying for top honours in the junior girls' section.

In cadet (U-15) boys' category, India will be represented by Sandipan Dey, Rajeeb Sarkar, Abhishek Yadav and Utkarsh Gupta.

Mallika Bhandarkar, T R Rishiya, Camila Sil and Monika Batra will lead the hosts' challenge in the cadet girls' section.

Sunil Babras, V K Agrawal and Mantu Ghosh will accompany the team as coaches for the five-day tournament to be held at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.

Flintoff on Queensland's radar for T20 Big Bash

Melbourne, July 16 (PTI) Andrew Flintoff's decision to quit Test cricket after the on-going Ashes series has brought him under the radar of Australian domestic side Queensland, which is eyeing to sign the English all-rounder for the December-January slated T20 Big Bash series.

Queensland Cricket chief Graham Dixon has admitted that they are seriously thinking of roping in Flintoff, who will end their search for a quality T20 player for the domestic event.

"For the last few months we've been talking to a well credentialed international player and we're down the track with that person but we haven't finalised things and are not expected to do so soon," Dixon said.

"He (Flintoff) is keen but obviously the challenge we have is the timing of his national commitments and our tournament. However, we have been down the track with Andrew Flintoff 12 months ago through Stuart Law," he added

Bitter-sweet B'desh eye series victory over Windies

St George's (Grenada), July 16 (AFP) Bangladesh will carry bitter-sweet feelings into the second and final Test against the West Indies starting tomorrow at the Queen's Park Stadium Complex.

Bangladesh need only to draw to fulfill a long-held dream of their first Test series victory after they took a 1-0 lead with a 95-run victory in the opening Test at St Vincent.

But celebrations have been tempered following a knee injury to their new captain Mashrafe Mortaza which appears likely to sideline him for the match.

Mortaza fell clumsily on his right knee when bowling during the first Test, and spent the last two and a half days off the field.

He underwent a medical scan on Tuesday, and though the results of the test are not as bad as initially feared, the visitors do not want to risk long-term injury to their main fast bowler.

West Indies go down to Bangladesh

KINGSTOWN, July 14: Bangladesh claimed just their second ever Test victory with a 95-run win over a makeshift West Indies side in the first Test on Monday.

Debutant off-spinner Mohammed Mahmudullah did the damage with figures of five for 50 as West Indies collapsed to 181 all out with just over 40 minutes of play remaining.

Indian team returns with 14 medals

NEW DELHI, July 14: The Indian team returned home on Tuesday after winning 14 medals at the three-day junior Asian Wrestling Championship in Manila.he team arrived at the international airport here this morning. Raj Singh, vice president, Wrestling Federation of India, who accompanied the team, said that this was the teams' best performance at the Asian Wrestling Championship."Its our best performance so far. Before this, we have not won so many medals in the Asian Wrestling Championship, in freestyle, Greco Roman style and Female Junior Wrestling Championship," said Singh.The participants were also jubilant on their performances."I am very happy, I have won gold at the Championship. It was a good performance and everyone has done well," said Navjot Kaur, one of the participants. India collected five gold, four silver and five bronze medals during the three-day competition. (Agencies)

My double-bogey helped me win

Bethlehem, July 13: A double-bogey midway through the final round inspired Ji Eun-hee of South Korea to win the US Women’s Open on Sunday.

The 23-year-old Ji dropped to three shots off the pace after the par-four 10th, but from there she made three birdies, including a 20-footer at the 18th that gave her a first major championship.

Enigmatic Pakistan bounce back in second test

COLOMBO, July 13: Debutant Fawad Alam scored an unbeaten century as Pakistan produced a remarkable turnaround to claw their way back in the second Test against Sri Lanka on Monday.

The tourists, who were bowled out for 90 in their first innings, hit back to dismiss Sri Lanka for 240 and then cruised to 178-1 in their second knock by stumps on the second day.

Left-handed Alam led the way with a determined 102 not out to give Pakistan a lead of 28 runs with nine wickets in hand on a dry pitch that appeared to have eased out under the hot sun.

Ponting has got it right, says Benaud

Cardiff (Wales), July 12: By closing his side’s first innings with a lead of 239, Australian captain Ricky Ponting has set his England counterpart Andrew Strauss a task that will test his leadership as well as his batting ability, feels former player and noted commentator Richie Benaud.

"I was disappointed in England’s bowling attack because I’ve been singing its praises of late.Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and Andrew Flintoff were in the form of their lives and I rate Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar highly," Benaud says in his article for News of The World. "Neither the England off spinner nor the left hander bowled a tight line and length and their changes of pace were virtually non-existent. Ponting, Simon Katich and Michael Clarke handled them superbly, but I give top marks to Marcus North," Benaud says.

Holden stunner gives US late draw

Massachusetts, July 12: A spectacular injury-time equaliser from Stuart Holden saved the United States' blushes as they drew 2-2 with Haiti on Saturday to clinch a quarter final berth in the Gold Cup.

The result put the United States top of Group B with seven points from three games. The draw was also enough for Haiti, on four points, to progress to the quarter finals.

In other Group B action, Honduras thrashed Grenada 4-0 to finish second and advance to the last eight.

‘Tendulkar not fit for T20’, says Buchanan in his book

NEW DELHI, July 9: Former Australian coach John Buchanan has taken pot shots at some of India’s great cricketers, including Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar, in a new book which is likely to ruffle many feathers.

Apart from Tendulkar and Gavaskar, the controversial coach has also taken swipe at Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh and business tycoon Vijay Mallya.

Katich and Ponting hold firm against Flintoff

CARDIFF, July 9: Simon Katich and Ricky Ponting survived a ferocious burst from Andrew Flintoff after the all-rounder had dismissed Phillip Hughes on the second day of the first Ashes Test on Thursday.

At tea, Ashes holders Australia were 142 for one in reply to England's 435, a deficit of 293, with left-handed opener Katich 53 not out and captain Ponting 44 not out at Sophia Gardens.

Ponting's innings meant he'd joined an elite group of batsmen who'd all scored more than 11,000 Test runs in Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara and former Australia captain Allan Border.

ICC brings forward start of Champions Trophy

DUBAI, July 8: The start of this year’s Champions Trophy in South Africa has been brought forward by two days to September 22. The International Cricket Council had orignally scheduled the eight-nation tournament from Sept 24. to Oct. 5.“But now on the recommendations of some countries who wanted longer gaps for their players between matches, the tournament will start two days earlier,” a Pakistan Cricket Board source told Reuters on Wednesday. The tournament, which involves 15 matches in 14 days, was originally scheduled to be held in Pakistan in 2008 but was moved to South Africa because of security concerns. (Agencies)

Dravid’s inclusion will be a bonus for ODI team: Ganguly

MUMBAI, July 8: Former skipper Sourav Ganguly on Wednesday welcomed Rahul Dravid’s return to India’s ODI scheme of things and said the experienced right-hander’s inclusion will be a bonus for the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side at the Champions Trophy in South Africa later this year.

The BCCI selection committee included Dravid in the 30-member probable list for the Champions Trophy to start from September 24, paving way for the former captain's return to the ODI team since October, 2007.

“He’s (Dravid) so good in all forms. His inclusion will be a bonus for India. I'm sure he would do well. It’s the right decision (by the selectors to recall him). He himself would not have expected it,” Ganguly said after attending the Cricket Board's Technical Committee meeting on his 37th birthday.

Apart from Dravid, left-arm pacer Ashish Nehra, who impressed in the Indian Premier League in South Africa as well as the just-concluded ODI series in West Indies, was also included in the list of probable for the biennial event.

Ganguly also advised out-of-favour left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan to draw inspiration from Dravid and Nehra's comeback and earn his place back into the national team.

“Irfan should look at the example of Rahul Dravid and Ashish Nehra. If you keep performing well you are bound to bounce back. He's young and talented, he knows he has to do better,” said the Bengal stalwart.

In the recent past Irfan’s performance had dipped significantly prompting the selection panel to omit his name from the probable list. Ganguly also said too much should not be made out of the India team's early departure from Twenty 20 World Cup in England.

“India have done well in all forms of the game. We had a poor outing in T20 World Cup but not too much should be read into it. We have some superb players,” he said.

He threw in his weight behind Dhoni and said winning and losing are part of the game and it would be wrong to vilify the captain for it.

“It’s bound to happen. You can't go on for so long without (hitting) a lean patch. He's (Dhoni) a smart cricketer and has a good head,” Ganguly complimented. Asked for his opinion on ICC's idea to reduce Test matches by a day and introduce day/night Tests, Ganguly said he would forever remain a supporter of five-day games.

“I’m always for five-day Tests. I’m not averse to day/night Tests, but the issue of the white ball needs to be sorted out to make it interesting,” he declared. (PTI)

India finish seventh in Asian Youth Games

SINGAPORE: Swimmer Aaron Agnel D'Souza won a bronze on the last day of the inaugural Asian Youth Games as India finished seventh in the medal's table
with 11 in their kitty on Monday.

D'Souza added a bronze to the gold he had won in 200m freestyle by finishing third in 100m freestyle with a timing of 51.52 secs to take India's medal tally to five gold, three silver and three bronze.

India were represented by 48 athletes in the Games and took part in seven disciplines -- athletics, swimming, diving, shooting, table tennis, beach volleyball and basketball.

Athletics contributed eight medals (four gold, two silver and two bronze) while swimming gave India three medals (one gold, one silver and one bronze).

China topped the table with 52 medals (25 gold, 16 silver, 11 bronze) while Korea were second with 51 (18 gold, 16 silver, 17 bronze). Thailand finished third with 20 medals (11 gold, 7 silver, 2 bronze).

Source:TOI

Dravid recalled for Champions Trophy

CHENNAI: The selectors finally took a step that clearly indicated that they were worried with India's batting following the T20 World Cup and the West Indies series.

They have brought Rahul Dravid back into the fray for a spot in the ODI side by including him in the 30-member probables list for the Champions Trophy, and if sources close to the selection committee are to be believed, it's not just for filling up the numbers.

The Indian batsmen's frailty against short-pitched bowling was there for everyone to see during the T20 World Cup and the selectors believe some solidity is required in the middle-order.

Even though India won the series against the West Indies, the general belief among the decision makers is that it is all due to "one match winning effort (from Yuvraj)."

It was clearly indicated that Dravid would surely be considered when the final 15 was selected for the Champions Trophy. The veteran right-hander may not fit into skipper MS Dhoni's scheme of things but given the recent performances of the Indian team, the selectors may well take a stern stance.

The fact that the Champions Trophy will be played in South Africa, where the pitches will afford steep bounce, has also gone in Dravid's favour. But will there be a chance to see what kind of form Dravid is in before the final team is selected?

"Do we need to do that for a player of Dravid's stature? We know what he is capable of," the source shot back.

Another player who found himself out of favour was all-rounder Irfan Pathan. By not picking him in the list of 30 probables, the selectors have indicated that they are looking ahead, at least for now.

Champions Trophy probables:

MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Abhishek Nayar, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan, RP Singh, Praveen Kumar, Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Ravindra Jadeja, Dinesh Karthik, Munaf Patel, R Ashwin, M Vijay, Amit Mishra, Ajinkya Rahane, Dhawal Kulkarni, S Badrinath, Ashish Nehra, Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar Singh, Wriddhiman Saha, Pankaj Singh.

Squad for Emerging Nations Trophy:

S Badrinath (Capt), M Vijay, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli (Vice-Capt), Manoj Tiwary, Ishant Jaggi, Abhishek Nayar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar Singh, R Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Wriddhiman Saha, Naman Ojha, Pankaj Singh, Dhawal Kulkarni, Pradeep Sangwan, Sudeep Tyagi.

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Federer is world No.1 again

PARIS: Roger Federer's Wimbledon triumph on Sunday has seen him regain the world number one spot from arch-rival Rafael Nadal.

The Spaniard went top after last August's Beijing Olympics on the back of his win there and at Wimbledon in July.

He consolidated that by winning the Australian Open at the start of the year but lost to Robin Soderling in the fourth round of the French Open and then withdrew from the defence of his Wimbledon crown through injury.

Federer, who lost to Nadal in Melbourne, won both the French Open and Wimbledon to chalk up a record 15 Grand Slam titles, one more than Pete Sampras.

Dhoni, Nehra best performers in West Indies

New Delhi, July 6 (PTI) India paceman Ashish Nehra made a memorable comeback after four years, topping the wicket takers list, while skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni became the highest scorer in the four-match ODI series against West Indies.

By virtue of amassing 182 runs from three innings with an average of 91, Dhoni became the numero uno batsman of the series that India won 2-1 yesterday.

Nehra bagged six wickets from three outings to finish the series with an economy rate of 5.84.

The left-arm Delhi pacer, seeking to consolidate his place in the national side, capitalised on humid conditions in the West Indies to make the batsmen's life miserable.

Nehra shared the wicket takers list along with West Indian pacer Dwayne Bravo.

They are followed by young West Indian pacer Ravi Rampaul, India all-rounder Yusuf Pathan and the hosts Jerome Taylor, all picking up four wickets each.

PCB allows Tanvir to play for Rajasthan Royals

KARACHI, July 3: The Pakistan Cricket Board has given a green signal to all-rounder Sohail Tanvir to play for his Indian Premier League franchise Rajasthan Royals in a charity match against Middlesex at Lord’s on July 6. The sports management company which represents Tanvir said in a statement that Tanvir would represent the Rajasthan Royals in the match being played for the British Asian Trust. Tanvir was the best bowler of the IPL in the first season and played a key role in his team's title win. However, he could not play the second edition after the Pakistan foreign ministry advised the PCB not to send its players to India due to security concerns arising out of the tense relations between the two countries after the Mumbai terror attacks last November. The IPL was later moved to South Africa but by that time the IPL franchises had either terminated or suspended the contracts of the Pakistani players due to their unavailability for the second season. Portfolio world, the sports management company also quoted Shilpa Shetty the co-owner of the Rajasthan Royals as saying that she was excited to have Tanvir back in the team. "He was truly missed in the IPL second season," Shetty was quoted in the statement. Tanvir, the left arm pacer, struggled in the recent T20 World Cup in England and was dropped from the playing eleven. (Agencies)

‘This time, it’s mine’

LONDON, July 4: Serena Williams clinched her third Wimbledon title and 11th Grand Slam crown with a 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 victory over sister Venus, the defending champion, on Saturday.

The victory added to her 2002 and 2003 wins at the All England Club and shattered Venus’s hopes of a hat-trick of titles and sixth overall which would have taken her level with Billie Jean King. Saturday’s final was the fourth all-Williams title match-up at Wimbledon and eighth in all Grand Slams with the win giving Serena the edge in head-to-head meetings at 11-10. Of the eight major finals the sisters have faced each other in, Serena has won six.

"It feels so amazing. I’m so blessed. I feel like I shouldn't really be holding the trophy, Venus should be holding it, she always wins," said Serena who currently holds three of the four Grand Slam titles. "I can’t believe I have won 11 majors. It’s a real honour."Venus, 29, admitted Serena had been the better player of the two. "She was just too good today. She had an answer for everything and played the best tennis," said Venus after a final fittingly staged on US Independence Day. "I don’t think the loss has set in yet, that’s why I’m still smiling. But I have had some great times here and I’m looking forward to coming back next year."Serve dominated the first set with 27-year-old Serena fighting off the only two break points in the eighth game and it was the younger of the two sisters who seized control of the tiebreak. Serena went to three set points by forcing Venus to scramble from side to side before putting away a powerful crosscourt forehand. Venus saved the first set point but was powerless when a pinpoint lob from her sister left her stranded at the net. It was the first set Venus had dropped at Wimbledon since the third round in 2007, a run of 34 consecutive winning sets. Serena, who had saved match point in her marathon semi-final win over Elena Dementieva, carved out her first set point when Venus double-faulted to hand her a 4-2 lead and revenge for last year's final defeat to her sister looked likely. Second seed Serena held to love, backed-up by her 12th ace of the match, to lead 5-2.

She then wasted three match points in the eighth game but clinched the title when Venus netted with a forehand. (Agencies)

Federer's 14 Grand Slams

Sri Lanka's Vaas to quit Tests, says chief selector

Galle (Sri Lanka), July 4 (AFP) Veteran Sri Lankan seamer Chaminda Vaas has decided to retire from Test cricket, the country's chief selector Asantha de Mel told AFP today.

The 35-year-old left-armer, who has served Sri Lanka at the top level for 15 years, will, however, still be available for one-day and Twenty20 cricket, the official said.

"Chaminda has told me he does not want to play Test cricket anymore, but he will continue in the shorter formats," de Mel, a former Sri Lankan fast bowler, said.

Vaas, a 110-Test veteran, was overlooked for the Test series against Pakistan which began at the Galle International Stadium today.

The selectors did not pick him even after spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan was ruled out of the first Test due to a knee injury, leaving the Sri Lankan attack short of experience.

India aims for second ODI series triumph in WI

Gros Islet (St Lucia), Jul 4 (PTI) India would be aiming to notch up only their second ODI series triumph in the Caribbean when they take on the West Indies in the fourth and final one-dayer here Sunday .

The thrilling six-wicket triumph in the rain-truncated third one-dayer has given India a 2-1 lead in the series and a win Sunday would give the team a second series triumph here and partly make amends for the early exit from the Twenty20 World Cup in England.

The last time India won an ODI series in West Indies was 2002 when Sourav Ganguly led them to a 2-1 triumph in a five-match series, two games of which were abandoned due to rain.

But the hosts extracted revenge in 2006 when they hammered the Rahul Dravid-led Indians 1-4.

In the ongoing series, the visitors, under Mahendra Singh Dhoni, have not been too convincing.

Mumbai to take on Punjab in Ranji opening tie

Mumbai, July 4 (PTI) Mumbai will open their Ranji Trohy title defence in the 2009-10 season by taking on Punjab in the Elite Division Group A tie at Mohali from November 3-6.

Mumbai had clinched the Ranji Trophy for the 38th occasion defeating Uttar Pradesh in the final in Hyderabad last season.

Elite division groupings:

Group A: Mumbai, Hyderabad, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Railways, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and Orissa

Group B: UP, Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Karnataka, Bengal, Delhi and Baroda

Elite division schedule:

Round 1: Nov 3-6: Punjab v Mumbai at Mohali; Railways vs Tamil Nadu in Delhi; Hyderabad vs Himachal Pradesh in Hyderabad; Gujarat vs Orissa in Ahmedabad; Baroda vs Delhi in Vadodara; Uttar Pradesh vs Karnataka in Kanpur; Maharashtra vs Bengal in Pune.

BCCI Technical, NCA Committees to meet on July 8

Mumbai, Jul 4 (PTI) The Cricket Board's Technical Committee and the National Cricket Academy Committee are to meet here on July 8 ahead of the 2009-10 season.

"The Technical Committee meeting will be chaired by Mr Sunil Gavaskar and would undertake a review of the 2008-09 season," said BCCI's CAP, Prof Ratnakar Shetty.

Gavaskar used to have a meeting with the Ranji Trophy captains and coaches for getting feedbacks at the end of the season but that meeting could not be held this year because of the Indian Premier League that was held in South Africa.

"We have made changes to the formats of the under 19 and 22 events, by making these cricketers play on a home and away basis. The technical committee would be informed about this," Shetty said.

Number one is still a distant dream: Saina Nehwal

New Delhi, July 4 (PTI) She is inching closer to being among the world's top five and is tipped to be number one in the next couple of years but ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal says being numero uno is still a very distant dream.

The legendary Prakash Padukone considers Saina talented enough to be at the top in the next two years but the 20-year-old doesn't want to aim so high right now.

"Prakash sir has been very encouraging, I also want to be the number one but I don't want to think about that now. I would have to be at my best to achieve that. I have to be consistent and win back-to-back tournament," Saina told PTI after going up a rung to sixth in the latest world rankings.

Paes-Black in Wimbledon mixed doubles final

London, July 3 (PTI) Top seeds Leander Paes and Cara Black stormed into the final of Wimbledon mixed doubles event with a straight-set victory over Stephen Huss and Virginia Ruano Pascual here today.

The Indo-Zimbabwe pair beat their 12th seeded opponents 6-4 6-4 in a 71-minute semifinal contest.

Paes and Black, who won the US Open mixed doubles last year, were rusty at the start and were broken in the second game by the Australian-Spanish pair who go up 2-0 and then 3-0.

The top seeds, however, fought back with stunning ferocity to break their opponents in the fifth and seventh games to pocket the first game 6-4 in 35 minutes.

The second set went on serves till the fourth game after which Paes and Black tightened their game to break their opponents once and pocket the set 6-4 in 36 minutes and the match.

PTI

Dhoni gives India invincible lead

Gros-Islet (St Lucia): Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni played another responsible knock of 46 not out as India took an unbeatable 2-1 lead in the series, winning the third One-day international by six wickets according to the Duckworth-Lewis (DL) Method with just one ball to spare here on a rain-marred on Friday.

India capitalised on a good start by openers Dinesh Karthik (47) and Gautam Gambhir (44) and Man of the Match Dhoni played a composed innings off 34 balls as the visitors achieved the rain revised target of 159 in 22 overs at the Beausejour Stadium.

India skipper opted to bowl but the start was delayed by over two hours due to rains and when the game started persistent rains interrupted the game thrice.

Ramnaresh Sarwan's fine 62 off 59 balls went in vain even as West Indies made a challenging 186 for seven in 27 overs. But India were set a target of 195 according to the DL method.

But another spell of shower in the 14th over during India's innings revised gave the target to 159 in 22 overs.

However, it was the 84-run opening run stand that always kept India ahead of the run rate and Dhoni ensured that he stayed till the end as India scampered home to win in the penultimate ball. Dhoni's only six came in the last over and it reduced the equation to four from four balls that India achieved easily.

Earlier, Sarwan's 62 lifted the West Indies to 186 in 27 overs in the rain-shortened match. Left-armer Ashish Nehra led India's bowling with 3-21 off five overs while Harbhajan Singh took 2-35.

West Indies skipper Chris Gayle then blasted off six fours to score a quickfire 27 off 14 balls before he fell on the resumption of the game after the first spell of shower.

Sarwan and Runako Morton (22) then stitched a 51-run stand for the second wicket before a fine piece of stumping by Dhoni off Harbhajan ended Morton's stay.

Sarwan kept on playing his shots while Shiv Chanderpaul (15), Dwayne Bravo (14) and Darren Bravo (21) made valuable contributions. Denesh Ramdin remained unbeaten on 14 from six balls as the West Indies achieved the challenging total courtesy the Duckworth-Lewis Method.


The fourth and the final ODI will be played here on Sunday.

Source:http://cricketnext.in.com/news/dhoni-gives-india-invincible-lead/42228-13-1.html

Bedi laments lack of recognition from DDCA

New Delhi: A veteran of 67 Tests with 266 wickets to his credit in his 12-year career, former skipper Bishen Singh Bedi has lamented lack of recognition from his home state board of Delhi and District Cricket Association.


"I don't think Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) would have ever remembered me for whatever I did," rued the leg-spinner, who retired from international cricket in 1979.


The 62-year-old cricketer received 'Lifetime Achievement Award' by a magazine at a function here on Thursday, while teen tennis star Yuki Bhambri got the 'Exemplary Achievement' award

and swashbuckling Indian batsman Virender Sehwag bagged 'Jewel of the Nation' award for their contributions to their respective disciplines.


"I'm very surprised. I was not expecting such an award at all, though I am quite excited to be called 'Jewel of the Nation'," Sehwag said after receiving the honour from Union Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Salman Khursheed.


Yuki on his part said: "It's great to see that tennis is given some recognition in a cricket crazy country like India."


The awards were given by The Sunday Indian magazine in association with Indian Institute of Planning and Management, to recognise regional talents who have made the country proud.

Soruce:http://cricketnext.in.com/news/bedi-laments-lack-of-recognition-from-ddca/42225-13.html

India aim to bounce back from batting debacle

Gros-Islet (St Lucia): India will be looking to edge closer to a rare one-day international series victory against the West Indies in the Caribbean before embarking on a well-earned break from the game.


They face West Indies in the last two ODIs of four this coming Friday and Sunday at the Beausejour Cricket Ground here.


India and West Indies shared the first two ODIs last Friday and Sunday at Sabina Park in Jamaica.

Soruce:Cricketnext.com

Buchanan remains Ponting's fan

He might have shifted loyalties to England but former Australia coach John Buchanan remains a fan of Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting and expects his leadership to become more assertive in the Ashes beginning next week.

Buchanan, a consultant with the England Lions team, heaped praise on Ponting and said the diminutive right-hander would prove his captaincy skills in the series starting July 8.

"He is determined to turn the tables for (the defeat in England in) 2005," Buchanan was quoted as saying by 'The Times'.

"When he led Australia in the past two Ashes, he was surrounded by good lieutenants, but he is now ready to take the captaincy issue forward and move from a consultative style to one of more direct leadership."

Describing himself as a fan of Ponting, Buchanan said he looks to be in firm control of the team.

"I've always been a great fan of Ricky. He is an outstanding team man and he brings that to his leadership style, but it is clear this is now his team," he said.

© PTI

Brazil dethrone Spain at top of FIFA rankings

ZURICH: Brazil has ended Spain's one-year reign at the top of FIFA's rankings, rewarded for its comeback win over the United States in the Confederat
ions Cup final.

Brazil rose four spots to reach the top of the rankings --released Wednesday -- for the first time since August 2007. European champion Spain, upset by the U.S. in the semifinal last week, slipped to second.

Netherlands fell back to third, Italy stayed fourth and Germany slipped two places to fifth.

Russia, England, Argentina, France and Croatia rounded out the top 10.

The U.S., beaten 3-2 by Brazil in a thrilling match Sunday, rose two spots to No. 12.

But it was far from the biggest climber.

North Korea jumped 23 spots to No. 83 after it qualified for its first World Cup since 1966.

Higher up the rankings, Australia hopped over 13 teams to reach No. 16, its highest spot since FIFA began its rankings in 1993. Ivory Coast rose 20 places to become Africa's top team at No. 18.

I can run 9.5, says 'Lightning' Bolt

LONDON: Usain Bolt, the fastest man in history, insisted on Thursday he can run the 100 metres in 9.5 seconds -- if he can get back into his gold med
al-winning Beijing Olympics form.

The Jamaican, 22, also said he had no fear of the in-form Tyson Gay -- and if the US sprinter breaks his 9.69 seconds world record, he will break it back.

Bolt, in Britain as the European athletics season gets into full swing, insisted he had yet to reach his peak.

"With a lot of work I think I probably can go a little bit faster with hard work and dedication. That is the key for getting there. I'm working on it," Bolt told reporters on a visit to a south London sports school.

"I was thinking 9.5 maybe but I've got a lot of work to do to get back to the shape I was in.

"I'm not in the best shape right now but I'm working, slowly but surely. I still have a lot of work to do.

"For me it's always about the World Championships. The fast times will come if I work hard and train really hard, so I'm not really worried about that."

Bolt suffered minor leg injuries in a car crash in April, but he recovered quickly following minor surgery and is now focused on the biennial World Championships, which take place in Berlin on August 15-23.

Both Gay - owner of the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay world titles - and Bolt - who sensationally captured the same treble at the Beijing Games last August - secured their World Championships berths in their national trials at the weekend.

In New York in May, the American ran the 200 metres in 19.58sec, the third-fastest time in history, laying down his intentions for taking on Bolt. The Jamaican won the Beijing gold in a world record 19.30sec.

However, the man nicknamed "Lightning" Bolt is not worried about Gay's challenge to his records.

"I have no problem. Everybody wants to be a world record holder. If he breaks it, it's part of the game for me. I'll work to break it back. It's all fun and games," the triple Olympic gold medalist said.

"I've no fear. I have no fear of any athlete I go against. I compete at my best at all times. I don't worry."

And he insisted that there was plenty more to come from the fastest man on earth.

"I'm not at my peak, I have a little more left in the tank, I have a bit more to go. I'm still trying to get everything together to get that perfect race."

Bolt also hinted that he may compete in the 400 metres in future.

"I think maybe next year I may try it, I think I can maybe run 44 seconds," he said.

Since Bolt became the fastest man alive, he has maintained his laid-back persona and is in no rush to give up the chicken nuggets that powered him to victory in Beijing.

"I do eat too much fast food maybe. I do like to enjoy myself," he admitted.

"I try and stay as much down to earth as possible. I like to have a party because I'm young, so I like to enjoy myself also.

"I train six times a week, mostly in the evening hours when the sun goes down. I'm not really a morning person."

But he added: "I think I was born naturally fast.

"Natural talent takes you just so far, then you've got to put in the work.

"I know what it takes to get to the top. It's all about hard work and dedication. That's what makes me the fastest man in the world."

Soruce:TOI

Paes-Black in mixed doubles semis

WIMBLEDON: Top seeds Leander Paes and his Zimbabwean partner Cara Black breezed into the semi-finals of Wimbledon's mixed doubles event with a facile
straight set win over 11th seeded Andre Sa and Ai Sugiyama on Thursday. ( Watch )

The Indo-Zimbabwean duo needed a little over an hour to swamp the Sa-Sugiyama pair 6-3, 6-3 in the lop-sided quarterfinal match.

In the semi-finals, they will take on 12th seeded pair of Australian Stephen Huss and his Spaniard partner Virginia Ruano Pascual.

The Huss-Pascal duo defeated humbled fourth seeds Kevin Ullyett and Su-Wei Hsieh 6-3, 5-7, 9-7 in a hard-fought quarterfinal match

Source:TOI

Jeev Milkha Singh tied 20th, Randhawa in danger

Paris, July 3 (PTI) Returning from a rib injury, Jeev Milkha Singh fired three-under 68 for the tied 20th place but compatriot Jyoti Randhawa's opening round of 76 jeopardised his prospects of making the cut in the Open de France Alstom golf tournament here.

Among others, Kolkata pro SSP Chowrasia carded 69 to lie tied 32nd while Delhi lad Shiv Kapur's one-over 72 had him tied 85th.

Paired with Colin Montgomerie and Miguel Angel Jimenez, Jeev had, by and large, a satisfying round with the 17th hole bogey being the lone blot on the card.

Jeev said he could still feel the pain in his ribs but was happy with the show.

"I played the pro-am with an anti-inflammatory patch on, and it wasn't too bad. There was a bit of discomfort, but it felt much better than during the US Open

More Indians will be added to ICC Hall of Fame

New Delhi, July 3 (PTI) The presence of just three Indian cricketers in International Cricket Council's Hall of Fame may have generated a controversy in the country but the game's governing body today made it clear that more Indians would be added to the elite list.

The ICC said that the list would be updated annually and would have an adequate Indian representation.

"This is not the final list. I do believe that a number of magnificent Indian cricketers deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. We will soon develop a mechanism and have plans to add more players to the list on an annual basis," ICC President David Morgan told PTI in a telephonic interview from London.