Axed Krejza has no intention of falling off Oz spin cycle radar

Published>Fri, Feb 12 10 01:19 PM

Hobart (Tasmania), Feb.12 (ANI): Dismissing a theory advanced by some in cricket circles that he has been axed from the Tasmania Sheffield Shield squad because he was found to be dropping his head at the time of delivery, off-spinner Jason Krejza has said that he has no intention of falling off the Australian spin cycle radar.

Insisting that there is nothing sinister behind his axing, The Age quoted Krejza as saying: "I think it's come back to the numbers showing that my form at Bellerive Oval hasn't been fantastic, and they have picked a team with four quicks showing that our bowling mix at Bellerive wasn't working."

I'm pretty sure it's a short-term thing. I just have to look to the next game I'm going to be selected in, which hopefully is the next game away [in Perth from next Friday], and at Bellerive Oval they might continue doing the four quicks, who knows," he added.

"I don't think there is any link whatsoever," said Krejza of his response to Hauritz's emergence as a reliable, wicket-taking Test spinner this summer.

Spin bowling can be a brutal and confidence-shaking occupation in Australia; Beau Casson has disappeared from the NSW scene since playing a solitary Test in the West Indies in 2008 and the Victorian selectors appear to have moved on from Bryce McGain at first-class level, preferring to give youngster Jon Holland some exposure almost a year after McGain's only Test in South Africa.

A few months ago, Krejza and Hauritz were competing for the same spot in the Australian squad, and Krejza was bowling with admirable control.

In his most recent games at Bellerive Oval, though, he returned figures of 0-80 and 0-143.

The national selectors have recently preferred NSW all-rounder Steve Smith as a spin understudy for Hauritz, but Krejza has not given up on another crack at Test cricket.

But first, he must find a way back for Tasmania, rather than vanish like previous spinners in the post-Shane Warne era.

"That can happen to a few people, but I am quite determined to get back there. The news of getting dropped was disappointing, but the selectors told me exactly why and we figured out a game plan of how to get back and that's what I've got to do. There is no use crying about it," he said. (ANI)

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Nude pics of Ashley Cole sent to glamour model

Published>Fri, Feb 12 10 01:15 PM

London, Feb 12 (ANI): Ashley Cole was yesterday involved in a sex scandal after naked pictures of him were allegedly sent to a glamour model.

According to reports, Sonia Wild, 28, received explicit mobile phone pictures of the Chelsea full-back with raunchy text messages. She replied with images of herself, reports The Sun.

The defender, who's married to Cheryl Cole, admitted taking the snaps of himself while "larking about" in the England squad's Hertfordshire hotel. However he denied sending them to the 28-year-old beauty while engaging her in hours of text sex.

Ashley claimed he had given the phone away to a pal.

Cole, 29, said: "I can't believe I gave a phone away that still had stuff in its memory. I thought I'd deleted it. It seems I was wrong as someone has used it to pretend to be me."

A source close to the left back said: "Ashley's embarrassed about this. He was larking about in his room with his cameraphone before the match. He was in all his glory.

"He took the images on an unregistered pay-as-you-go phone then didn't manage to delete them when he gave it away to a mate. To say he's horrified to discover the pictures were sent to a model is an understatement."

In 2008, Cole's marriage was rocked after hairdresser Aimee Walton claimed they had a one night stand. (ANI)

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Axed Krejza has no intention of falling off Oz spin cycle radar

Published>Fri, Feb 12 10 01:11 PM

Hobart (Tasmania), Feb.12 (ANI): Dismissing a theory advanced by some in cricket circles that he has been axed from the Tasmania Sheffield Shield squad because he was found to be dropping his head at the time of delivery, off-spinner Jason Krejza has said that he has no intention of falling off the Australian spin cycle radar.

Insisting that there is nothing sinister behind his axing, The Age quoted Krejza as saying: "I think it's come back to the numbers showing that my form at Bellerive Oval hasn't been fantastic, and they have picked a team with four quicks showing that our bowling mix at Bellerive wasn't working."

I'm pretty sure it's a short-term thing. I just have to look to the next game I'm going to be selected in, which hopefully is the next game away [in Perth from next Friday], and at Bellerive Oval they might continue doing the four quicks, who knows," he added.

"I don't think there is any link whatsoever," said Krejza of his response to Hauritz's emergence as a reliable, wicket-taking Test spinner this summer.

Spin bowling can be a brutal and confidence-shaking occupation in Australia; Beau Casson has disappeared from the NSW scene since playing a solitary Test in the West Indies in 2008 and the Victorian selectors appear to have moved on from Bryce McGain at first-class level, preferring to give youngster Jon Holland some exposure almost a year after McGain's only Test in South Africa.

A few months ago, Krejza and Hauritz were competing for the same spot in the Australian squad, and Krejza was bowling with admirable control.

In his most recent games at Bellerive Oval, though, he returned figures of 0-80 and 0-143.

The national selectors have recently preferred NSW all-rounder Steve Smith as a spin understudy for Hauritz, but Krejza has not given up on another crack at Test cricket.

But first, he must find a way back for Tasmania, rather than vanish like previous spinners in the post-Shane Warne era.

"That can happen to a few people, but I am quite determined to get back there. The news of getting dropped was disappointing, but the selectors told me exactly why and we figured out a game plan of how to get back and that's what I've got to do. There is no use crying about it," he said. (ANI)

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Olympic torch reaches Vancouver

Published>Fri, Feb 12 10 01:01 PM

Vancouver, Feb 12 (DPA) After nearly 45,000 kilometres and some 12,000 bearers, the 2010 Olympic torch has finally arrived in Vancouver.

The flame - which was lit Oct 22, 2009 in Olympia, Greece, and entered Canada eight days later - was welcomed in the Olympic host city at a ceremony at the city hall.

A large community party was planned for downtown Vancouver Thursday night, when Canadian singer Michael Buble was to join the torchbearers before the flame lights a mini cauldron at the stage.

Early Friday, day 106 of the tour through Canada, California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was to join the torch relay along with London 2012 organising committee chairman Sebastian Coe and Sochi 2014 organising committee president Dmitry Chernyshenko, among others.

The final torchbearer, who will light the cauldron at the opening ceremony at BC Place Stadium Friday evening, remains top secret.

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Moving county season forward by a week can resolve ECB, Champions League scheduling clash: Modi

Published>Fri, Feb 12 10 12:41 PM

London, Feb.12 (ANI): Champions League Chairman Lalit Modi has said that if the England and Wales Cricket Board moves the English cricket county season forward by a week, it can resolve an existing scheduling clash.

The problems have been caused by the scheduling of a one-day series between India and Australia in early October forcing the Champions League organisers to move forward their tournament.

Other problems began to emerge on Thursday, with counties set to lose expensive overseas signings who have qualified for the Champions League with their home teams. Leicestershire will lose Australian Andrew McDonald to the competition.

The final two rounds of the championship and the latter stages of the 40-over Cup fall during the Champions League, which is scheduled for September 10-26.

"We need to know in the next week or so," Modi told Telegraph Sport.

"If they (English counties) don't come we will invite somebody else. The idea is they come and I hope it doesn't get to that eventuality. I understand counties can't go around the ECB's back and we will not invite anybody without their board's permission," Modi said.

"We have given them the opportunity to change it [the county season] and there is nothing more we can do. We hope the counties change their minds and advance it by a week but the international calendar is very hard to alter," he added.

At present both sides are refusing to budge, the English cricket counties could miss this year's tournament, reports The Telegraph. We have an English season to play. The economics of that are very substantial and very attractive for counties," Clarke said. (ANI)

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Pakistan keen to play cricket matches in US

Published Fri, Feb 12 10 11:45 AM

Karachi, Feb 12 (PTI) After the cash-rich Indian Premier League, it is the Pakistan Cricket Board which is now exploring the possibility of organising cricket matches for the national team in the United States. With teams refusing to tour the troubled country due to security concerns, Pakistan has become completely isolated as a cricketing nation. Pakistan''s problems were further compounded when the International Cricket Council moved the nation''s share of 2011 World Cup matches to co-host countries India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh following last year''s terrorist attack on the visiting Lankan team. Since then, Pakistan has been hosting international teams at neutral venues. PCB chairman Ejaz Butt and chief operating officer Wasim Bari met USA Cricket (USACA) officials led by chief executive Donald Lockerbie on the sidelines of the two-day ICC meeting that ended yesterday in Dubai. "PCB Wasim Bari held a meeting with USA Cricket Association (USACA) officials to discuss organising match series in USA in 2010. The matches will feature the defending ICC World T20 champions," the PCB said in a statement. MORE PTI Cor SSC

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Marcel shows how it's done

Published>Fri, Feb 12 10 11:21 AM

The blinking dots of the electronic scoreboard facing the ninth green had put up a pretty drastic number on top, so Gaganjeet Bhullar's wry smile as he turned around to take a look was understandable.

Home advantage had been the buzzword ahead of the start of the Avantha Masters, but the eight-under 64 of German Marcel Siem, the number to match as the first morning's low-scoring rounds finished, turned out to be insurmountable at the DLF Golf & Country Club. Most of the big home names mustered up just average starts, and Rahil Gangjee, finishing in the evening shadows, was the only Indian in Thursday's top ten.

Gangjee's five-under 67, which included a late burst of two finishing birdies, placed him tied for the third spot, while Bhullar, who was three-under at the halfway mark, finished at that score, tied 19th alongside C Muniyappa among others. Chinese Taipei's Chan Yih-shin is placed second, a shot back from Siem.

Growing up at a golf course in western Germany, Siem and his friends paid so much attention to putting that training sessions often lasted till the greens had to be lit up by candlelight. His "putting was dreaded" by the older guys, whom he regularly beat as a junior, Siem says on his official website.

Valuable lessons

On Thursday, it was inputs from another junior that helped the 29-year-old overcome the troublesome grain at DLF. "I got a pretty good lesson from Vani Kapoor yesterday," Siem said of his pro-am round on Wednesday in the company of the current national No.1 amateur girl. "She was so aggressive on the greens, I have to say she was my putting inspiration today." New fan Vani, who has promised to give up her weekend study schedule to come and support Siem, said all she did was tell the German to hit a firm putt, making sure he didn't keep it short. The advice was obviously taken very seriously, as Siem finished his round with an 18-foot eagle putt on the ninth hole. He also made six birdies through his round.

The key for Gangjee was hitting his approach shots well, and he handled the putting puzzle with a simple solution: "Keep them short." A two-foot putt on the par-three third started his run, and he followed that up with three more birdies before a slightly wrong line that forced him into a three-putt gave him his only bogey of the day - on the par-three 16 th hole. That was promptly corrected by birdies on the 17 th and the 18th. Gangjee, who has one Asian Tour title from way back in 2004, said another one right about Sunday won't be bad at all. "When you're winning your first title, it's all a blur. The second time around, you're thinking about it and suddenly overcoming the mind becomes the biggest hurdle," Gangjee said.

Bhullar had started off in the title-winning form from last week, two-under after the first three holes. One speed-bump came at the par-four fifth hole, where he hit a wayward tee shot and had to lay up from the trees on the right to end up with a bogey. Another miscued tee shot - on the par-four 12th - where he took two hits in getting out from the trees and then found the greenside bunker with his fourth, hurt him big. The double bogey there brought him back to two-under. There were as many as three unlucky lip-outs for the 21-year-old, though the finishing birdie would've given him confidence for Friday.

Jeev Milkha Singh, Jyoti Randhawa and Arjun Atwal shot an even-par 72 each to be tied for the 57th spot.

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Olympics - Speedskating - Green oval lives up to gold standard

Published>Fri, Feb 12 10 09:11 AM

Gold medals are not handed out for architectural design, but the environmentally friendly speed skating arena built for the Vancouver Olympics is being called a winner by the bladed athletes who will compete there this month.

The Richmond Olympic Oval, considered the signature building of the Games, contains salvaged wood damaged by a pine-beetle infestation and has a massive roof shaped like a wave.

"We compete in some nice ovals that have been built as Olympic facilities in the past," defending 5,000 metres champion Chad Hedrick of the United States told Reuters. "This one here obviously outdoes all of them. They went big on this.

"Being an Olympian, the best part is walking in and feeling like you're being treated special, feeling like you've really made it to the big time. When you walk in here you definitely feel that way."

Completed just over a year ago, the $178 million building that sits along the Fraser River in Richmond, just outside downtown Vancouver, is striking on the outside, spectacular inside and a model environmental sustainability.

The most distinctive external element is the roof, designed in a wave formation that is one of the world's largest clearspan wooden structures.

Inside, 15 soaring wooden arches span a wooden ceiling joined in a way that creates a ripple effect and gives the feel of being sheltered by a massive heron's wing, the city's official symbol.

"Walking into the oval at Richmond is amazing. You just get really inspired. It's beautiful looking. It's very motivating to be there. It's just a great place," 1994 triple gold medal winner Johann Olav Koss of Norway told Reuters on Thursday.

"It doesn't feel like an ice rink because it has a wooden ceiling, so that is beautiful," Danish speed skater Cathrine Grage said.

RAINWATER COLLECTED

Blue spectator seats ring the 400-metre track to accommodate a crowd of 7,600 for the Games competitions. The design was executed with close attention to the environment.

The ceiling was made with a million board feet of pine beetle-infested wood that otherwise would have gone to waste, and wood cleared from the six-acre site before construction began was used to make benches in the team dressing rooms.

Rainwater running off the distinctive roof is collected in a pond for irrigation and flushing the facility's toilets, and the oval's refrigeration plant uses a waste heat recovery system to heat areas of the building that will be turned into a multi-sport facility and exercise centre after the Games.

"It's just absolutely amazing, like nothing I've ever seen," said Australian skater Sophie Muir.

"The place is just beautiful in the way they've set it up to be quite environmentally friendly, which scores brownie points in my books."

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Romanian suffers heavy crash in training

Published Fri, Feb 12 10 09:05 AM

Romanian luge athlete Violeta Stramaturaru was briefly knocked unconscious on Thursday after a high-speed crash at the Whistler Sliding Centre during an Olympic training run.

Stramaturaru lost control midway through her descent of the twisting track and was thrown into a side wall before sliding down the ice.

She was treated by trackside staff before being taken to a medial treatment centre on site. Her injuries are not thought to be too serious, a team official said.

Stramaturaru's crash came after several men earlier suffered accidents in their training runs for the weekend's singles -- the first sliding event of the Games.

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Olympics - Vonn keeps fans updated in social network Games

Published>Fri, Feb 12 10 08:49 AM

Lindsey Vonn turned to Twitter and Facebook to give fans reassuring news about the state of her troublesome shin on Thursday, in a further sign that these Games are turning into the social network Olympics.

Vonn had made the shock announcement of her "excruciating" injury via the "old media" means of a U.S. television network and an official International Olympic Committee news conference.

It looked for a while as if the American Alpine skier might have given up on her fans out in the digital world after her earlier confusion over what she would be allowed to write had led to a brief break from all things digital before the Games.

But reassured by the IOC, one of the most recognisable faces of the Games soon returned and on Thursday she made full use of the ability to connect directly with her legions of fans online.

She first turned to Twitter, revealing she had taken painkillers before a training run that was eventually cancelled, and in the afternoon she gave her full status update on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/LindseyVonnUSA).

"I was really happy to be back on snow today even if it was for only 1 freeski run," she wrote.

"My shin was still very painful, but I feel like the injury is finally progressing a bit. The pain level has gone down from a sharp debilitating pain to something that I feel I may be able to grit my teeth through. So that really puts a smile on my face!:)"

Vonn is far from alone in her digital devotion.

Twitter has produced a long list of Olympians Tweeting from the Games, and verified as being genuine (http://twitter.com/verified/olympians) and the IOC's Facebook page attracted its one millionth Games fan this week.

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Olympics - Vonn comeback on ice as doping rears its head

Published>Fri, Feb 12 10 08:39 AM

Injured American skier Lindsey Vonn might get her groove back in time for the Winter Games after the downhill favourite told Facebook friends on Thursday she could possibly race through the pain.

Just a day before the Olympics open, fog and snow kept skiing's leading lady from schussing down Franz's downhill course in Whistler in her first training run -- a delay that conveniently gave her more time for her painful shin to heal.

Down the mountain in Vancouver, another female athlete garnered unwanted attention. Russian ice hockey player Svetlana Terenteva became the first athlete to test positive for a banned substance at these Games, but will be allowed to stay.

As pre-Games drama and fog swirled, some 5,000 athletes and officials were set to descend on Vancouver for Friday's opening ceremony, the first indoor curtainraiser at a Winter Olympics.

The stadium spectacle will be a welcome novelty as rain pours on Vancouver and melts Wednesday's long-awaited snowfall on Cypress Mountain, the nearby snow-challenged freestyle skiing and snowboard venue.

Up on Whistler, the day after Vonn dropped the bomb of her shin injury and the possibility that she may not compete, the 25-year-old took painkillers, donned skis and got in a warm-up run that made her smile.

"The pain level had gone down from a sharp debilitating pain to comething that I feel I may be able to grit my teeth through," she said on Facebook.

'VONN-COUVER' GAMES ON?

Only two downhill women contenders hit the course before the training was scrapped. The second, American Stacey Cook, suffered a heavy crash into the safety fence and had to be taken by helicopter to a hospital.

Ironically, poor conditions could pay off for Vonn -- and the success of the so-called "Vonn-couver" Games that have so much staked on the golden girl of skiing.

"Generally I am disappointed when a training run is cancelled, but in this situation, I definitely welcome the extra day to heal," Vonn said.

While the women skiers' training was scrapped, the men managed to complete their downhill training on a nearby course, keeping their Saturday downhill race on schedule.

Saturday is also the first day of moguls competition on Cypress, where organisers staged a massive snow lift to build the courses there after the warmest January on record.

In the final hours before the Games open, the International Olympic Committee raised the first flag on doping in a case involving Terenteva's use of a light stimulant contained in an over-the-counter nose spray.

Because she took the substance before the Olympic period, the hockey player escaped a ban that would have sent her packing to Russia.

The IOC said the prohibited substance would not have affected her performance because it would have been completely out of her system before her team's first game on Monday.

TORCH ENDS 106-DAY TREK

Apart from doubts over Vonn, weather and doping, organisers say everything is set for a successful Olympics -- "the most ambitious sporting event ever held on Canadian soil," Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on Thursday.

On the final day of a 106-day, 45,000-kilometre trek across Canada, the Olympic torch will be carried through Vancouver on Friday by notable athletes like California Governor and former bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger.

It is a much-guarded secret who Canada will choose to light the Olympic cauldron on Friday night, with speculation ranging from hockey great Wayne Gretzky to an anonymous aboriginal athlete.

As for the rest of the opening ceremony, organisers are struggling to keep a lid on normally secretive preparations.

Despite confidentiality agreements, the digital diversions of those attending the dress rehearsals have led to leaks of the ceremony via iPhones and social network sites like Twitter.

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Champion Johnson leads at sunny Pebble Beach

Published>Fri, Feb 12 10 07:29 AM

Title holder Dustin Johnson shot an 8-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on Thursday.

Johnson, who won last year's tournament by default after the fourth round was washed out by heavy rain, tore up the back nine with five consecutive birdies in benign, sunny conditions to lead fellow American J.B. Holmes and K.J. Choi of South Korea.

American Charley Hoffman, who played the par-70 Monterey Peninsula Country Club's Shore Course, is two shots back on six-under, while former world number one David Duval is among a group of 12 three adrift.

The in-form Johnson, who finished joint third with Holmes behind compatriot Steve Stricker at the Northern Trust Open that finished Sunday, mixed four birdies with two two bogeys on the front nine, before exploding on the par-five 14th.

The big-hitting American birdied after nearly reaching the green in two, picked up two more on the next two holes with putts under 10 feet, then another on the par-three 17th after landing his tee-shot seven feet from the cup.

Johnson then capped the streak with his fifth birdie on the par-five 18th, after reaching the green in two.

Professionals, celebrities and amateurs will also tee off from the Spyglass Hill course at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, in addition to the Pebble Beach Golf Links and the Shore Course.

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American Oudin races into quarters at Paris Open

Published Fri, Feb 12 10 06:11 AM

American Melanie Oudin thrashed experienced Swiss Patty Schnyder 6-1 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals at the Paris Open on Thursday.

The teenager, who had dropped just three games in her first round annihilation of Romania's Sorana Cirstea, breezed past her 31-year-old opponent in just over an hour.

Oudin's return of serve was superb as she stormed through the first set losing just one game. The world number 53 was almost as impressive taking the second set.

The 18-year-old, who reached the last eight at the U.S. Open, now faces Hungary's Agnes Szavay who beat Croatian Petra Martic 6-2 6-4.

Oudin's win sets up the possibility of a semi-final meeting with top seed and world number seven Elena Dementieva.

The Russian must first get past Germany's Andrea Petkovic who dashed French hopes of a quarter-finalist when she battled past fifth seed Aravane Rezai 6-3 3-6 6-3.

On the other side of the draw, Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic booked her place in the last eight with a 7-5 6-2 win over fourth seed Francesca Schiavone.

Safarova broke the Italian at 5-5 in the first and then held to take the set. The Czech broke Schiavone immediately in the second set before going on to triumph 7-5 6-2.

"I wanted to push her back into the trenches," said Safarova. "I really had to give 100 percent to win this match. It was pretty tight and difficult, so I'm glad to have made it through."

Her next opponent will be sixth seed Shahar Peer of Israel who cruised through with a 6-4 6-3 win over Croatia's Karolina Sprem.

In Friday's other quarter-final, number two seed Flavia Pennetta will meet fellow Italian Tathiana Garbin.

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Hitesh fashions Gujarat victory; UP win

Published>Fri, Feb 12 10 04:55 AM

An unbeaten 102 run knock by Hitesh Patel was the highlight of the match as his team? Gujarat registered a thumping ten wicket victory against Rajasthan in their league match of the 9th Dr Shakuntala Mishra memorial inter-state cricket for the visually impaired at KD Singh 'Babu' Stadium, Lucknow on Thursday. Hitesh's unbeaten 102 came off 37 balls which featured 21 boundaries.

Hosts Uttar Pradesh continued to perform well. They beat Maharashtra by ten wickets in their second league match. The star performer on behalf of UP was Ganesh (71 not out; 1 for 21). Two more league matches of the same tourney were played on Thursday. Karnataka defeated Jharkhand by nine wickets in their league match while Haryana beat Bihar by 38 runs. The highlights of the match were an unbeaten 96 run knock by Dinesh Kumar of Haryana and a 78 run knock by Ashish Negi of Bihar. Brief Scores: (at 'Babu' Stadium):-1st match: Jharkhand: 100 for nine in 20 overs ( Amar Kumar Sharma 22, Furquan Khan 12, Prashant Kumar 11; Shekhar Naik 2 for 9, Ravi S 1 for 10, Mahesh 1 for 21); Karnataka: 104 for one in 90 overs ( Shekhar Naik 51 not out, Jilani 24; Ananta K 1 for 23); Man-of-the-match: Shekhar Naik (Karnataka);2nd match: Rajasthan: 155 for eight in 20 overs ( Islam Ali 58, Murari Lal 29, Hanuman Punia 24; Santosh 3 for 5, Naresh 2 for 13, Damor Bhalate 2 for 36); Gujarat: 156 for no loss in 8.4 overs ( Hitesh Patel 102 not out, Ketan Patel 34 not out); Man-of-the-match: Hitesh Patel (Gujarat); (at Chowk Stadium):-1st match: Haryana: 226 for six in 20 overs ( Dinesh Kumar 96 not out, Karan Singh 35, Satveer Singh 20, Ganesh 12, Vineet Kumar 10; Balmukund 2 for 32); Bihar: 188 for seven in 20 overs ( Ashish Negi 78, Bishojit 23, Shaukat 20; Dinesh 1 for 23, Vineet 1 for 38).Man-of-the-match: Dinesh Kumar (Haryana). 2nd match: Maharashtra: 135 for nine in 15 overs ( Anil 35, Dinesh 28, Prakash 15, Ashutosh 12; Syed Gazi 1 for 17, Ganesh 1 for 21); Uttar Pradesh: 136 for no loss in 12.1 overs ( Ganesh 71 not out, Syed Gazi 31 not out); Man-of-the-match: Ganesh (UP).

Selection trialsThe selection trials for the year 2010-2011 for new induction at Sports Authority of India, Extension Centre Day Boarding Schemes (Boys & Girls) 2010-2011 will be conducted on February 16 and 17 at UP Badminton Academy, Vipin Khand, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow for badminton (DBS- Boys & Girls). For Hockey (DBS-Girls), the trials will be held on February 18 at Karamat Hussain Muslim Girls' Inter College, Lucknow, informs director SAI sub-centre, Lucknow Sanjay Saraswat. Those interested should contact concerned centres for details.

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Olympics - Broken bones just horse play for speedy Gonzalez

Published>Fri, Feb 12 10 04:49 AM

Ruben Gonzalez describes Corner 16 on Whistler's perilous track as akin to a horse stamping on your head so what then drives a 47-year-old former photo-copier salesman to risk his limbs as an Olympic luge slider?

"It's not the sport, it's the Olympics," Gonzalez, who moved to New York from his native Argentina aged six and now lives with his wife and children in Houston, told Reuters after surviving his first two white-knuckle training runs ahead of the weekend's men's singles competition.

"I didn't even like luge for the first 20 years but it was my ticket to the Olympics. I needed a sport with lots of broken bones because I knew there would be quitters -- and I never quit. I'll be the last man standing."

Remarkably, Gonzalez is still standing and is about to appear in his fourth Winter Olympics dating back to 1988 when he first raced for Argentina in Calgary.

His life changed direction in 1984 when he was sat at home watching the Winter Games in Sarajevo and was transfixed by Scott Hamilton winning figure-skating gold for the U.S.

"He was like this tiny and I said if he can go to the Olympics so can I."

From that moment he was obsessed with becoming an Olympian but having acquired no particular athletic skills in his first 21 years he had no idea what sport he could take up.

"I went to the library and read books on all the summer sports but realised you had to be a super athlete," he said.

"The problem was I was always the last kid picked for P.E. at school. Then I hit on the idea of luge, it seemed to fit because it overcame my lack of athleticism."

Gonzalez travelled up to Lake Placid but his requests for a try-out initially fell on deaf ears and he was forced to practise on grass with a wooden sled that had wheels not rails.

"They said I should have had 10 years' experience by that stage," he said. "I didn't take no for an answer and when I said I was from Argentina they said if I raced for Argentina they could support because they wanted more nations involved."

Despite crashing "four times out of five" in his first year in the sport Gonzalez persevered and his dream came true in 1988 when he finished 33rd. Four years later at Albertville he was 31st and after a 10-year gap he competed at Salt Lake City.

"For 20 years I was scared every single run, I didn't like the sport," said Gonzalez, whose list of broken bones includes fingers, feet, ribs and elbow. "The broken bones were just a temporary inconvenience."

After setting up a motivational speaking company and having children, Gonzalez left his sledge alone for six years after Salt Lake but the lure of the Olympics came calling once again.

"It was the anniversary of the Calgary Games two years ago and I started to think can my old body handle it," he said. "I took a few runs and felt good and took part in four World Cup races to qualify. I made it by the skin of my teeth.

"It's crazy, this is the fastest track in the world and even the good guys are crashing. But I just had to be here and walk into that opening ceremony, that's why I do it."

Gonzalez said this will be his last Olympics although he is not ready to walk the dog just yet.

"I ran with the bulls in Pamplona two years ago and didn't get holed and I'm climbing Mount Kilimanjaro next year with a guy who went up Everest," he said. "I probably won't be in (2014 Winter Games in) Sochi....but don't set that in stone."

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Olympics - Expect northern exposure as usual suspects crowd medals

Published>Fri, Feb 12 10 04:29 AM

Athletes from North America and northern Europe should haul in the bulk of medals in Vancouver, even if Lindsey Vonn's shin injury ends up spoiling U.S. hopes of an Olympics gold rush.

Gaining a place in the left-hand column of a Winter Olympics medals table means entering an exclusive club.

Just 18 nations came away from Turin with gold in 2006 and few if any experts expect the number to be much higher in Vancouver, after Games that begin with the opening ceremony on Friday.

Economist Daniel Johnson, who claims an accuracy rate of over 90 percent in medals predictions, expects the usual suspects to crowd the top of the medals standings.

Johnson believes Russia will lead all nations with eight gold medals, followed by Germany with seven and the United States and Canada with five each.

The consolation for Canada, he predicts, will be in winning the highest total number of medals with a combined 27 gold, silver and bronze, followed by the United States and Norway.

With the Games looming, he stands by that order, although he now believes the final figures will probably be higher.

"It does look a little low," Johnson, an economics professor at Colorado College, told Reuters by telephone on Thursday. "I think that might be a function of the new sports that have been included. Our totals lag behind -- just a hair."

WISTFUL THINKING

Vonn's arrival in Vancouver with a badly bruised right shin means the prospect of claiming five gold medals appears less likely than ever. She also crashed in four years ago in Turin, where she was also a contender for gold.

If the 25-year-old is not in top shape, Maria Riesch of Germany will be among the Europeans poised to take advantage.

The United States won nine golds in Turin four years ago, putting them in second spot behind Germany, which won 11.

Twice before Canada has hosted Olympics, the 1976 Montreal Summer Games and the Calgary Winter Games in 1988, but have yet to celebrate a gold medal victory on home soil.

That will surely change this time. The host country's first gold medal could come on Saturday, which is the first full day of competition, by either Manuel Osborne-Paradis in the men's Alpine skiing downhill or freestyle moguls skier Jenn Heil.

If not, home advantage is likely to be a huge help in events like ice hockey, although Russia, among others, will provide stiff competition there.

If this is not to be the Vonn-couver Games, there appears to be few athletes capable of dominating the Olympics in the style of U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps or Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt in Beijing.

Red-haired Olympic halfpipe champion snowboarder Shaun White of the United State will draw plenty of attention, particularly if he pulls off his latest gravity-defying trick, the "Double McTwist 12".

American speed skaters Shani Davis and Apolo Anton Ohno also have the star quality every Games needs.

EYES OF THE WORLD

Other nations with strong hopes of gold include Winter Games powerhouse Austria, for whom ski jumper Gregor Schlierenzauer may become a household name, and Norway, with biathlete Ole Einar Bjorndalen eager to win back the golds he lost in Turin.

The popularity of South Korea's 19-year-old Kim Yuna will only increase as the eyes of the world turn towards her in the figure skating.

Japanese duo Miki Ando and Mao Asada are also among the favourites, while China's Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo are a strong bet in the pairs.

Curiously, the man who is so convinced that his predictions on the top-medalling nations are right, would like to be proved wrong.

"I'm as confident as I ever am but I would love to be wrong," Johnson said. "I would love to see a great upset with athletes from Africa and the Caribbean winning but I know the probability is low."

Source: Web Search

Whistler village no sweet home to France's Aubert

Published>Thu, Feb 11 10 11:09 PM

Games organisers are very proud of their state-of-the-art Olympic villages in Vancouver and Whistler but not all athletes are impressed.

The Whistler compound boasts fine rooms, top medical facilities and an impressive fitness centre, not to mention pool tables and a fire place.

That is not, however, what French Alpine skier Sandrine Aubert likes to call home.

"It's like living in an airport," she said on Wednesday, criticising the security measures at the entrance of the village hosting 2,850 athletes and team members competing around the mountain resort.

"Controls here, controls there. They even look under the bus to see if there isn't anybody hiding there. And you have to carry your accreditation all over the place. For someone like me who's not too organised, it's all a bit complicated."

Others do like the village, which is less than 20 minutes away from all Whistler competition venues and will be turned into housing after the Games.

"It's very comfortable and has everything we need," said top Swiss Alpine skier Carlo Janka.

"That's good because we could be spending quite a lot of time in here," he added, referring to poor weather conditions making race postponements likely.

Source: Web Search

Siddiqui slams Nitish on CM Cup cricket tournament

Published Thu, Feb 11 10 10:09 PM

Patna, Feb 11 (PTI) Chairman of Bihar Cricket Association and state RJD chief Abdul Bari Siddiqui today accused Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of not consulting him before nominating him in the organising committee for the CM Cup Cricket Tournament to begin here from March 4. "It is quite surprising to know that my name figures as one of the officer bearers of the organising committee," he told reporters here. Seeking deletion of his name from the committee, Siddiqui said he was not consulted at any point of time. BCA, he said, was an affiliated body of BCCI in the state and as per BCCI norms no office bearers, members or players recognised by BCA would take part in the events organised by any third party (state government). Siddiqui said the state government was, however, free to hold any tournament and claimed that it could only organise school-level and rural-level tournaments. "For the last 10 years we are trying to establish cricket in the state and fighting for full membership of BCA from the BCCI, but the state government had always created disturbances either by way of moving courts or blocking selection exercise. PTI AB AJK KK ATK

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Chauhan against ICC using ''suspension'' word

Published Thu, Feb 11 10 09:56 PM

New Delhi, Feb 11 (PTI) Delhi District Cricket Association vice-president Chetan Chauhan is not amused at the way the ICC appeal''s commissioner used the word ''suspension'' while rejecting BCCI''s plea against the Kotla ban. "I''m personally against this word, ''suspension''. I didn''t like it because I feel the match referee called off the match without taking into consideration the alternative pitches that we offered. There was enough time and there are clear provisions in the ICC rules for that," Chauhan said. The ICC had banned the Feroze Shah Kotla stadium here for one year -- until the end of December 2010 -- after an one-day international between India and Sri Lanka was called off in December last year because of "unfit" pitch conditions. Following the ban, the BCCI filed an appeal asking the ICC to reconsider its decision only to be rejected yesterday with the appeal''s commissioner Michael Beloff saying the suspension was proportionate in this case. Asked what would be DDCA''s next step, Chauhan said it was upto the Indian Cricket Board. "The onus is on BCCI, I can''t comment on what steps they would be taking now," he said. Chauhan said work in Kotla is going on full swing and hopefully there won''t be any hiccups in hosting the 2011 world Cup matches. "We have started our preparations for World Cup. There will be trial matches between the state sides and also IPL matches will be held here. I am confident there won''t be any problem in hosting World Cup matches," he said.

Source: Web Search

Win last 12 games and Arsenal can be champions - Arshavin

Published>Thu, Feb 11 10 09:50 PM

Arsenal can still capture the Premier League title but probably need to win their remaining 12 matches of the campaign to do so, their Russian striker Andrei Arshavin said on Thursday.

Arsenal moved to within six points of leaders Chelsea on Wednesday when they beat Liverpool 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium, while Chelsea lost 2-1 at Everton and Manchester United drew 1-1 at Aston Villa.

With 26 matches played, Chelsea have 58 points, United are on 57, Arsenal have 52 with Liverpool on 44.

"Of course, the result is good for us, but if we want to be champions we have to win all our remaining games. It's difficult to say whether it's (do-able), but after these results, it looks real," Arshavin said on his personal website (www.arshavin.eu).

"Back to the Liverpool game, I think that there were nearly equal teams playing. I liked the way we played.

"We were not afraid to play, the whole team was well co-ordinated. If I can say so, all the Arsenal players played the same football, that is we understood each other and combined."

A header from Abou Diaby 18 minutes from time secured the victory but Arshavin had been replaced by then because of a leg injury.

He added: "It is hard to say how serious it is, I'll have my leg scanned. I didn't see the goal because I was in a room under the stands with the doctors and while we were looking for the TV remote, Diaby scored."

Arsenal have twice seen their title hopes written off this season -- the first time after they were beaten 3-0 at home by Chelsea in November to trail the leaders by 11 points.

They were also written off after successive defeats to Manchester United and Chelsea in the last two weeks left them nine points behind Chelsea, but that gap has now been cut to six.

Also, with the Liverpool match played, they have completed all their fixtures against their top four rivals.

Asked afterwards if he thought Arsenal could still win the league for the first time since 2004, manager Arsene Wenger said he believed they could.

"It was a massive result for us," he told reporters, "We believe in our chances. I don't see any mathematical reason why we shouldn't believe we can still do it. Why not?"

Source: Web Search

Controlling emotions is key against Pakistan: hockey coach

Published>Thu, Feb 11 10 09:40 PM

New Delhi, Feb 11 (IANS) India's national hockey coach Harendra Singh says that all pre-match strategy goes for a toss as players get emotionally keyed up when they play Pakistan and they should check their feelings when they take on the neighbours in their opening World Cup game Feb 28.

Harendra told reporters here Thursday that in all the outings with Pakistan in recent times the Indian players were unable to carry out their pre-determined tactics as they were so surcharged about winning the match instead of treating it as any other game.

The national coach pointed out that though Pakistan beat India in most of their recent clashes, including the Champions Challenge semi-final in Argentina, the margin of their victories was narrow.

'When India and Pakistan play, it boils down to controlling emotion. In the last few matches we have seen the players getting deflected from the pre-planned strategy and turning individualistic, thus allowing the emotions to get better of them,' Harendra said.

'Now we have told the players that they should stay cool and follow the strategy planned even when they are down. In the last couple of years, the winning margin between the two teams has narrowed,' he said.

'We have learnt from our mistakes in Argentina and we should not be repating them.'

Harendra, however, said the players have been told to take Pakistan just as another team.

'We are not focussing on one match. There are some top teams in our Group and we will have to play well in all the matches. The team has shown lot of improvement under Spanish coach Jose Brasa. The players have got good exposure overseas.'

Asked whether lack of warm up matches will affect the chances of the team, Harendra said: 'Practice matches before any big tournament help the team. In the last 15 months we have played 48 matches, so we cannot complain. We have played against good teams

and tried out various combinations keeping the World Cup in mind.

'The team is in good shape. We have three drag flickers in the squad and it reflects our strength. We are aiming for a semi-final spot and for that we have to to do well in group stage.'

Source: Web Search

Win last 12 games and Arsenal can be champions - Arshavin

Published>Thu, Feb 11 10 09:29 PM

Arsenal can still capture the Premier League title but probably need to win their remaining 12 matches of the campaign to do so, their Russian striker Andrei Arshavin said on Thursday.

Arsenal moved to within six points of leaders Chelsea on Wednesday when they beat Liverpool 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium, while Chelsea lost 2-1 at Everton and Manchester United drew 1-1 at Aston Villa.

With 26 matches played, Chelsea have 58 points, United are on 57, Arsenal have 52 with Liverpool on 44.

"Of course, the result is good for us, but if we want to be champions we have to win all our remaining games. It's difficult to say whether it's (do-able), but after these results, it looks real," Arshavin said on his personal website (www.arshavin.eu).

"Back to the Liverpool game, I think that there were nearly equal teams playing. I liked the way we played.

"We were not afraid to play, the whole team was well co-ordinated. If I can say so, all the Arsenal players played the same football, that is we understood each other and combined."

A header from Abou Diaby 18 minutes from time secured the victory but Arshavin had been replaced by then because of a leg injury.

He added: "It is hard to say how serious it is, I'll have my leg scanned. I didn't see the goal because I was in a room under the stands with the doctors and while we were looking for the TV remote, Diaby scored."

Arsenal have twice seen their title hopes written off this season -- the first time after they were beaten 3-0 at home by Chelsea in November to trail the leaders by 11 points.

They were also written off after successive defeats to Manchester United and Chelsea in the last two weeks left them nine points behind Chelsea, but that gap has now been cut to six.

Also, with the Liverpool match played, they have completed all their fixtures against their top four rivals.

Asked afterwards if he thought Arsenal could still win the league for the first time since 2004, manager Arsene Wenger said he believed they could.

"It was a massive result for us," he told reporters, "We believe in our chances. I don't see any mathematical reason why we shouldn't believe we can still do it. Why not?"

Source: Web Search

Arsenal and Hull City fined over player scuffle

Published Thu, Feb 11 10 09:10 PM

Premier League clubs Arsenal and Hull City were fined and warned over their future conduct on Thursday for failing to control their players in a match between the two sides on Dec. 19.

Hull were fined 40,000 pounds ($62,530) and Arsenal 20,000 after players from both teams became embroiled in a confrontation when Hull's Stephen Hunt clashed with Arsenal's Samir Nasri.

A statement on the Football Association website (www.thefa.com) read: "Arsenal and Hull City were fined for failing to control their players during a match at the Emirates Stadium in December.

"The clubs were charged in relation to a mass confrontation between players from both sides during the fixture on 19 December. Hull admitted the charge. Arsenal denied the charge but the commission found it proved."

Arsenal, who are third in the Premier League, won the game 3-0.

Source: Web Search

Kirsten appointed ICC Cricket Committee member

Published Thu, Feb 11 10 08:55 PM

Dubai, Feb 11 (PTI) India coach Gary Kirsten was today appointed member of ICC Cricket Committee as a representative of national coaches on the final day of two-day meeting of the International Cricket Council Board here. Kirsten will replace Mickey Aurthur, who recently resigned as South Africa coach. "The Board has reappointed Ian Bishop and Mark Taylor to the ICC Cricket Committee as media representatives and also ratified the reappointment of Kumar Sangakkara and Tim May as current player representatives and India''s Gary Kirsten as the representative of national coaches following the recent resignation of Mickey Arthur," an ICC statement said today. The ICC Board decided to further work on the Decision Review System and build on the encouraging results from the first 13 matches. "ICC received a report from David Richardson, ICC General Manager Cricket, on umpire decision review system in which he stated the system had led to a significant increase in the number of correct decisions. In 13 Tests the percentage of correct decisions has risen from 91.3 to 97.44 per cent. "The Board supported to continue to build on the encouraging results from the first 13 matches and will discuss further technological improvements with broadcasters in March to improve and refine DRS further," the statement said. It also accepted ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit''s recommendation on the requirement of a designated full-time security manager by all the full members. .

Source: Web Search

Marcel Siem leads Avantha Masters, Gangjee tied third

Published>Thu, Feb 11 10 08:49 PM

Gurgaon, Feb 11 (IANS) Germany's Marcel Siem took the opening honours at the at the 1.5 million euros (approximately $2.1 million) Avantha Masters golf with an eight-under-par 64 for a single shot lead over Chinese Taipei's Chan Yih-shin here Thursday.

Rahil Gangjee was the best Indian in the field in tied third with a birdie-birdie finish that saw him card a 67 for the day alongwith six others.

The event is tri-sanctioned event by the Asian Tour, European Tour and Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI).

'I also feel I am getting my game back,' said Gangjee. 'The plan is to play one shot a time and to stay in the present. I don't want to get ahead of myself. Last week (in Asian Tour International) I was rusty. I actually planned to start with an Indian Tour event in Dhaka, but I fell ill and began last week in Bangkok. Now I am feeling fine and the rust is going.'

The 29-year-old German looking for his second career win on the European Tour gave the 16-year-old Indian ladies No. 1 Vani Kapoor the credit for his flawless eight-under 64 to take the lead at the end of the first round.

Siem gave young Indian lady amateur, Vani, who played with him in the Pro-Am, a lot of credit for his play. 'The greens are a bit grainy, but I got a good lesson from Vani Kapoor, probably one of the best young female players in India. She was so aggressive on the greens and she showed me the way. I have to say that she was my putting inspiration.'

Gaganjeet Bhullar and C.Muniyappa came next best with 69 each in tied 19th.

The big three of Indian golf, Jeev Milkha Singh, Arjun Atwal and Jyoti Randhawa all came in with an even par 72.

Two-time Asian Tour number one, Jeev Milkha Singh posted a 72 to take a share of 56th place. 'I missed a number of putts and I did not do anything exceptional today. However I know that a really good round tomorrow could very quickly change the scenario for me,' said Singh.

Gurki Shergill and Ashok Kumar shot 70 each, while Anirban Lahiri was one-under. Shiv Kapur went to four-over 76 despite two birdies in his last four holes.

Chan eagled his closing par-five ninth at the DLF Golf and Country Club to sign for a 65 while Singapore's Lam Chih Bing and Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant took a share of third place. Thailand's Chapchai Nirat carded a 68 to be among the mix of nine players in 10th place that included Malaysia's Ben Leong, Australia's Rick Kulacz and Terry Pilkadaris, Chinese Taipei's Lin Wen-hong and Thailand's Kwanchai Tannin.

Siem who is seeking his second professional win, marked his card with three birdies on the 12th, 17th and 18th in his opening back-nine to reach the turn in 33.

The German continued to enjoy another blemish free run in his homeward nine by carding another three birdies followed by a closing eagle.

'I can't remember the last time that I shot 64. It must be at least three years ago so I'm pretty happy with that. It's definitely my best round for a few years,' said a delighted Siem.

Meanwhile Lam surprised even himself with his opening start after recovering from a severe bout of food poisoning.

'I'm quite surprised with how I played today because I almost couldn't walk on the course yesterday,' said Lam.

Chapchai Nirat continued his Indian sojourn spectacularly when he returned with a blemish-free card that was marked with two birdies and an eagle. The big-hitting Thai set a new world record when he shot a stunning 32-under-par 256 total en route to victory at the SAIL Open in India last season. Despite nursing a back injury, he is showing early signs of enjoying another memorable run in India again.

Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke signed for a 71 to take a share of 36th place.

Source: Web Search

NDMC selects four schools for CWG opening ceremony

Published Thu, Feb 11 10 08:39 PM

New Delhi, Feb 11 (PTI) Three NDMC and one Navyug schools have been shortlisted by the civic agency for participation in the opening ceremony of Commonwealth Games 2010 and selected students from these institutions will now be given training. "The students of three NDMC and one Navyug schools have been selected for the opening ceremony of Commonwealth Games," Chairperson of NDMC Parimal Rai said today. He was speaking at a function for distribution of awards to the students of NDMC and Navyug schools for sports and co-curricular activities. Rai hoped that the students will present their best performance at the Games opening ceremony. Officials said selected students from these schools will now be given training for their performance at the sporting extravaganza to be held here in October this year. Ten NDMC schools students have been awarded scholarships for the "best sports students" for the year 2009-10. About 1350 prizes were distributed today among the students for showing excellence in sports events. The students of various schools presented colourful cultural programmes consisting of Rajasthan dance, Punjabi bhangra, yoga demonstrations and aerobics on the occasion. PTI SDG

Source: Web Search

It would be 'idiotic' to legalise ball tampering: Ex Pak cricketers

Published>Thu, Feb 11 10 08:25 PM

Karachi, Feb.11 (ANI): Just a few days after former Pakistan batsman Rameez Raja described ball tampering as the 'Standard Operating Procedure' (SOP) of Pakistan cricket, several greats have lashed out at the idea of legalising the banned act.

Former Pakistan pacer, Sarfaraz Nawaz, who is considered as one of the best swing bowlers of all time, has termed the idea of legalising ball tampering as 'idiotic'.

"Pushing the idea of legalising ball tampering is simply idiotic. Who would frame the limits for ball tampering? Who would ascertain that the ball has been tampered to allowed extent or not and on what basis it would critically be decided to penalise if the bowling side has exceeded the allowed limits?" Nawaz said.

He also supported the huge advantages batsmen enjoy nowadays, such as powerplay, free hit and limiting bouncers.

"Spectators come to ground after having spent money to see some fireworks from the batsmen. If ball tampering is allowed every bowler would be able to bowl lethally hence restricting batsmen to measly totals," Nawaz added.

Another former Pakistan cricketer, Javed Miandad criticised people who supported the idea of legalising ball tampering.

Miandad said the concept of 'new ball' would have no meaning once tampering is allowed, as the bowling side would then shape the ball as per their needs.

The former Pakistan captain said batting was a more difficult task than bowling.

"Batsman has only one wicket and he might be caught or bowled any time. On the other hand, we have seen many a times that a bowler fails to pull any wicket during the whole day, and finally in the last few overs he hauls as many as five to six wickets," The Dawn quoted Miandad, as saying. (ANI)

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DDCA unhappy at the ICC using the word 'suspension'

Published>Thu, Feb 11 10 08:09 PM

New Delhi, Feb 11 (IANS) The International Cricket Council (ICC) appeals commissioner's use of the word 'suspension' while dismissing the Indian cricket board's plea against the decision to keep Ferozeshah Kotla track off big-time game did not go well with the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA).

After the last ODI between India and Sri Lanka was called off Dec 27 due an unplayable pitch at the Kotla, the ICC ruled that no international cricket will be played at the ground until the end of December 2010.

DDCA vice-president Chetan Chauhan said 'suspension' is not the right word.

'The word 'suspension' is a blot on the glorious history of the Kotla. The match was called-off by match referee Alan Hurst without exhausting all his options of seeing whether the match could have been played. The rule is clear, that the umpires should call off the match, not the match referee as he did in Kotla's case,' said Chauhan.

Asked if the DCCA was looking at any other option to reverse the ICC decision, Chauhan said: 'It was the BCCI which has gone in appeal and it is for the board to think of the next move.'

Chauhan, however, added that the suspension will not affect Kotla because the ground was not scheduled to host any international match this year.

'We have already started our preparations for the World Cup. Indian Premier League (IPL) will be a big test and hopefully the ground will be ready in time for the 2011 World Cup,' he said.

Source: Web Search

Media flays Sports Ministry, SAI for coverage restrictions

Published>Thu, Feb 11 10 07:59 PM

New Delhi, Feb 11 (IANS) India's national hockey coach Harendra Singh Thursday profusely apolgised to the media for not being able to arrange interactive sessions with the players and appealed to the sports ministry to allow reporters to follow the team's preparation for the World Cup.

An exasperated Harendra was hard put to explain to an angry media why the players were being kept under wraps and all he could do was to make a public appeal to the ministry to allow the media to interact with the players.

Media persons lashed out at the ministry and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for keeping them away from the National Stadium, the venue for the championship, on the lame excuse of security.

At a crowded news conference, the first since the national team began practicing here Feb 3, Harendra and Hockey India (HI) media adviser Anupam Ghulati were grilled as to why the authorities are so 'insensitive' towards the so-called national sport and media, which has a job to do.

The journalists pointed out that even the hotel where the players were billeted was out of bounds and there was no way the players, coach or the officials could be contacted for information.

Harendra and Ghulati were reminded that the World Cup is starting Feb 28, but there has hardly been any coverage of the team's preparation. Under the circumstances how could the organisers expect to promote such a major event if such restrictions are in force on the media, reporters asked.

'I apologise to the media on behalf of the squad. I appeal to the Sports Ministry, the Sports Authority of India and other agencies to lift all restrictions and allow regular interaction between the media and the players. Hockey is a national sport and we need media to project the event in a positive manner to make it memorable,' Harendra said.

'Let me make it clear that we the coaches and the players do not have any problem in interacting with the media as long as it does not interfere with our training schedule,' he said.

SAI had said that regular media interaction will be held, but it took more than a week for the first briefing. A SAI official told IANS that they had instructed the team managament to appoint a spokesperson for media interaction, and a venue has been hired for the purpose. But he would not say why it took more than week to fructify, hinting that team management did not act immediately.

Ghulati said the decision to keep the media off the training sessions was taken by 'higher ups.'

'HI doesn't have any role to play. The decision to keep the media out of the national stadium during the training sessions was taken by people at the highest level. The decision could be part of the overall security workout for the Commonwealth Games,' he said.

'The HI will make sure that there are regular media interactions every week,' said Ghulati.

Source: Web Search

Indian judokas slog for success in Bhopal for upcoming sports events

Published>Thu, Feb 11 10 07:41 PM

Bhopal, Feb.11 (ANI): Ahead of upcoming major sports tournaments like the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, selected Indian Judo players are preparing themselves rigorously here at an ongoing camp to deliver their best.

Having given a good performance in Commonwealth Judo Championship, the participants are now gearing up for the Asian Games 2010 in the camp organised in Sports Authority of India's (SAI) Bhopal centre.

The camp, which is being conducted for the last one and half months, is mainly to prepare the players for the Judo championships.

"This camp has been going on for the past one-and-a-half months, mainly for three tournaments -- the Commonwealth Judo Championship in Singapore which is already over, the South Asia Judo Championship that happened in Dhaka, Bangladesh and the forthcoming Rajiv Gandhi Judo Championship to be held in Jaipur on 21 and 22." said Satish Sharma, the Judo coach.

He, however, says that the objective behind the camp is to give rigorous training to the players to develop their physical strength, speed and stamina.

"These players are the selected players from India. They sometimes lack in physical fitness, strength, flexibility, agility, speed and endurance. So after conducting tests and evaluation, we try to improve them in this camp," he added.

India won 18 medals in different weight categories of the Commonwealth judo championships in Singapore. The tally included 13 gold medals. By Ram Chand Sahu (ANI)

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German Siem snatches late eagle to lead in New Delhi

Published Thu, Feb 11 10 07:29 PM

Germany's Marcel Siem squeezed six birdies and an eagle in an eight-under-par 64 to set the pace in the Avantha Masters first round on Thursday.

The 29-year-old, hunting his second victory on the European Tour, was one stroke ahead of Chan Yih-shin of Chinese Taipei.

A further two shots adrift on 67 were Singapore's Lam Chih-Bing, Britons Barry Lane and John Parry, Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen, Thai Thaworn Wiratchant, Australian Andrew Dodt and Indian Rahil Gangjee.

"I can't remember the last time I shot 64," Siem told reporters. "It must be at least three years ago.

"I am pretty happy with that. It's definitely my best round for a few years."

Siem, who started on the 10th hole, finished with a real flourish when he holed a 20-foot putt for an eagle three at the ninth.

His only European Tour win came at the 2004 Dunhill Championship in South Africa.

Chan, who won his first Asian Tour title in Bangkok at the end of last season, had to shrug off a sore back on Thursday.

"I'm happy with my score today considering I was getting some treatment for my back yesterday," he said. "I'm feeling fine now and am ready for the next three days."

Lam was also in the wars, having recovered from a bout of food poisoning.

"I'm quite surprised how I played today because I almost couldn't walk on the course yesterday," he said.

"I only dropped one shot, on the fifth hole, but overall you win some and you lose some."

Former Ryder Cup player Darren Clarke opened with a 71 while world number 59 Jeev Milkha Singh of India -- the highest ranked player in the field -- carded a 72.

The event is worth 250,000 euros ($344,800) to the winner and is the first following a new joint venture between the European and Asian tours to be known as EurAsia Golf.

Source: Web Search

Japan beat Hong Kong 3-0 at East Asian championship

Published Thu, Feb 11 10 07:09 PM

Striker Keiji Tamada scored twice for hosts Japan who beat Hong Kong 3-0 at the East Asian championship on Thursday to help ease the pressure on coach Takeshi Okada.

Tamada halted Japan's run of two successive goalless draws when he slid the ball home from a tight angle four minutes before halftime in rain-lashed Tokyo.

Booed from the pitch after scraping a 0-0 draw with China in their opening game, World Cup-bound Japan doubled their lead when defender Tulio headed home in the 65th minute.

Tamada bundled home Japan's third with seven minutes remaining to put the home side level with the Chinese on four points and on goal difference after two matches.

Japan realistically have to beat holders South Korea on Sunday to have a chance of capturing their first East Asian title with China facing Hong Kong in their final game.

The Koreans, another of the four Asian teams competing at this year's World Cup in South Africa, overwhelmed Hong Kong 5-0 before suffering a shock 3-0 defeat by China on Wednesday.

Source: Web Search

Tottenham manager Redknapp in court on tax charge

Published Thu, Feb 11 10 06:49 PM

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp and former Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric appeared in a British court on Thursday jointly accused of cheating the public revenue.

The pair face two charges relating to two alleged payments totalling $295,000 made to Redknapp during his time as manager of Portsmouth by Mandaric via a bank account in Monaco, evading tax and national insurance contributions.

Appearing together in the dock, Mandaric, 71, and Redknapp, 62, spoke only to confirm their names, addresses and ages and lent forward and listened carefully to proceedings in a brief, five minute hearing at the City of Westminster magistrates court in central London.

The pair were given unconditional bail and must now appear at London's Southwark Crown Court on Apr. 14 where they will enter their pleas.

Redknapp took over as Portsmouth boss in March 2002, won promotion to the top flight Premier League the following season, but resigned after a dispute with Mandaric in 2004.

However, he returned the following year and led the south coast English club to its first FA Cup success for 69 years in 2008, before he left for Tottenham just months later.

His current side are sixth in the Premier League after losing 1-0 to Wolves on Wednesday. Tottenham have given Redknapp their full backing after learning he would face legal proceedings.

Mandaric, who is now chairman of English Championship (second division) club Leicester City, took over Portsmouth in 1998. The Serbian-American businessman completed the sale of Portsmouth to Alexandre Gaydamak in 2006.

On Wednesday, Portsmouth, who sit bottom of the Premier League, were given seven days to fight a winding-up order over an unpaid tax bill.

Redknapp and Mandaric were previously quizzed, but not charged, in a police investigation into corruption in football in 2007.

Source: Web Search

Pakistan''s sprint queen returns to a warm welcome

Published Thu, Feb 11 10 06:39 PM

Karachi, Feb 11 (PTI) Pakistan''s super sprinter Naseem Hameed returned to a tumultuous welcome here after a historic performance at the South Asian Games and hoped her feat would inspire other female athletes from the country to do well at international stage. Naseem became the fastest South Asian woman on Tuesday when she clocked 11.81s to win 100m sprint, a feat no Pakistani woman had achieved before. Naseem returned with the fourth and last batch of the Pakistan contingent from Dhaka and got a welcome that is usually reserved for cricketers or hockey players in Pakistan. "I achieved this success because of the prayers of my family and country people and I hope that that my success will be an inspiration for other female athletes to do well at international level from Pakistan," Naseem told reporters at the airport. The 22-year old from a poor neighbourhood of Karachi, lives in a 40 square yard house with her family in Korangi. Hundreds of people, her family members and Pakistan army athletes turned up at the airport to welcome Naseem who is an Army employee on a salary of 9000 rupees per month. Army bands played national song as the crowd held up banners and placards welcoming Naseem. "It is a great feeling to get so much honour from my people. When I won the race I did not realise my gold medal would evoke such response and celebrations in Pakistan," the athlete said. More PTI Corr AT

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Sports Ministry gives NOC to Pak hockey team

Published Thu, Feb 11 10 06:25 PM

Karachi, Feb 11 (PTI) The Pakistan Sports Ministry today issued a No-Objection Certificate to the national hockey team to participate in the Hero Honda FIH World Cup to be held in Delhi from February 28-March 13. "The Sports Ministry has decided as a matter of policy that it had no objection to our national teams playing India in any multi-national event," a Ministry spokesman said. The spokesman, however, clarified that the NOC was subject to clearance from the country''s Foreign Affairs and Interior ministries as well. "But we have also sought advice of the Foreign and Interior ministries and this NOC is subject to clearance from them as well," the spokesman said. Since the security issues were involved in sending the Pakistan team to India, clearance from both the ministries were important, the spokesperson said. "The World Cup is a global event and security is the responsibility of the International Hockey Federation (FIH). But obviously we need to have a look at the security issues as well while sending team to India," he said. "But as far as bilateral sporting ties with India are concerned for the time being the policy is to take a case to case decision," he added. Pakistan plays India in the last match on the opening day of the high-profile tournament. Pakistan last won the World Cup in 1994.

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PCB chief Butt skips crucial ICC meeting to rush back home on Zardari's call

Published>Thu, Feb 11 10 05:25 PM

Islamabad, Feb.11 (ANI): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ijaz Butt has rushed back home on President Asif Ali Zardari's call, ignoring a crucial ICC meeting in Dubai, scheduled to be held on Friday.

Speculations were rife regarding Butt's removal following Pakistan's deplorable performance Down Under. However, Zardari seems to have overlooked the issue.

According to PCB insiders, Zardari has summoned Butt to explain the prevalent mismanagement in the PCB.

They said the agenda of the meeting is not limited and it includes all issues of Pakistan cricket.

"It is true that the finalisation of governing council members tops the agenda but more crucial issues are Javed Miandad's letter to President Zardari, the mismanagement in the board, the national team's poor show in Australia and calls for removal of Ijaz," The Daily Times quoted sources, as saying.

Butt,76, has come under severe attack from all quarters following Pakistan's complete white wash against Australia, and it was believed that he would be sacked from the prized PCB post.

However, he seems to have saved his head from being axed for the time being mainly due to consistent efforts of some of the top bureaucrats and his close relative and federal Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar. (ANI)

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Andrew Symonds' ex eyes Sydney move

Published>Thu, Feb 11 10 04:40 PM

Melbourne, Feb 11 (ANI): Oz cricketer Andrew Symonds' ex Katie Johnson is said to be planning on moving to Sydney from the Gold Coast.

The two had split last February after Symonds was suspended from the cricket squad following his bad behaviour and alcohol abuse, reports the Daily Telegraph.

They reunited, but separated again in July after Symonds slipped again and lost his contract with Cricket Australia.

Johnson is understood to be making the move for a fresh start. (ANI)

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Chelsea give captain Terry some time off

Published>Thu, Feb 11 10 04:29 PM

Chelsea have given under-fire captain John Terry several days off and he will miss Saturday's FA Cup fifth round tie against Championship (second division) side Cardiff City at Stamford Bridge.

"John won't play this weekend," assistant manager Ray Wilkins told the club's website (www.chelseafc.com) after Wednesday's 2-1 Premier League defeat at Everton.

"(Manager) Carlo (Ancelotti) has given him a bit of time off and he will come back and play against Wolves (in the league) on the 20th."

Defender Terry, who was stripped of the England captaincy last week following a host of media allegations about his private life, was below his best as the league leaders lost at Everton.

"John isn't infallible, he will miss headers and he will get beaten in the air," added Wilkins.

"But he has been absolutely outstanding for us. We have been delighted with the way he has played (this season)."

Chelsea's lead was trimmed to a single point after second-placed Manchester United drew 1-1 at Aston Villa on Wednesday. Ancelotti's men are also the FA Cup holders.

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Modi's blues for England cricket

Published>Thu, Feb 11 10 04:25 PM

London, Feb 11 (ANI): English cricket is facing a new controversy with Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi, as counties are set to miss out on the 2010 Champions League Twenty20 after it was announced the event will be staged between September 10-26.

Modi, who has long had a tense relationship with the ECB, announced the second Champions League will run from September 10-26, which overlaps with the end of the county season and England's one-dayers with Pakistan.

The dates clash with the end of the English domestic season, prompting the ECB to call for a rethink on the event's timing.

In those 16 days, there are two County Championship rounds, and the semis and final of the new ECB 40 League.

England also playa a one-day series against Pakistan from 10-22 September.

"ECB has expressed serious concern to the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Cricket Australia and Cricket South Africa concerning this decision and the matter will be discussed with the respective chairmen and presidents who are currently meeting in Dubai," the ECB statement read.

"ECB believes that it would be a great shame for the Champions League tournament to be deprived of teams and players by this change of date in bringing forward the respective events by a week and has called on BCCI to review all alternatives." (ANI)

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'Cruising' Oz cricket team in energy saving mode

Published>Thu, Feb 11 10 04:11 PM

Melbourne, Feb 11 (ANI): The Australian team is going to be in energy-saving mode ahead of forthcoming tours and has rested Shane Watson and Brad Haddin for the limited-overs series.

Watson has been rested for the second time in a week after his absence from the Pakistan limited-overs matches in Perth.

His place has been taken by Adam Voges, while Tasmanian Tim Paine will again stand in for Haddin, as well as open the batting, The Age reports.

"After a busy international summer, and with an upcoming tour of New Zealand in mind, the [selectors have] taken the opportunity to manage the workloads of Brad Haddin and Shane Watson for the next two matches of the Commonwealth Bank Series," chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said. (ANI)

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11-member Indian squad for wrestling tourney in Cuba

Published Thu, Feb 11 10 03:39 PM

New Delhi, Feb 11 (PTI) An 11-member contingent will represent India at the 41st International Free Style, Greco Roman Style and Female Wrestling Tournament ''Cerro Pelado Granma'' to be held in Havana City from February 15-21. Rajesh Kumar (84Kg) and Hari Krishan (55Kg) are among the six Indian grapplers who will compete in the Greco Roman Style event. The other Indians in that category are Anil Kumar (60Kg), Sunil Kumar (66Kg), Sanjay (74Kg), Rishi Pal (120Kg). The female squad consists of Neha Rathi (48Kg), Rachna Shekhawat (51Kg), Nirmala Devi (55Kg), Rajni (59Kg) and Babita (67Kg), a Wrestling Federation of India release said today. Last year, the Indians had won four gold, six silver and five bronze medals in this competition.

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Roddick eases through to advance at San Jose

Published Thu, Feb 11 10 03:29 PM

Andy Roddick brushed off a second set fightback by Ryler DeHeart to defeat the qualifier 6-1 7-6 and advance to the second round of the San Jose Open on Wednesday.

Roddick, the world number seven, breezed through the first set but was broken early to trail 3-0 in the second.

Fellow American DeHeart served for the set at 5-3 but could not close it out as the big-serving Roddick fought back to force a tie-breaker, then sealed it 7-1 with a forehand winner.

Playing in his first match since his Australian Open quarter-final defeat, Roddick finished with 11 aces and will next meet Leonardo Mayer in the second round.

Earlier, Czech Radek Stepanek became the first defending champion to lose in the tournament's first round in 20 years when he was ousted by Belgian Xavier Malisse 6-3 6-4.

German fourth seed Tommy Haas was also eliminated, falling 7-6 6-2 to Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin in the second round of the $531,000 hardcourt tournament.

Another seed, Fernando Verdasco of Spain, had to battle hard to avoid joining Stepanek and Haas on the way home but the second-seed prevailed over Lu Yen-hsun 6-3 6-7 6-3 in the last match of the day.

Third seed Stepanek had four break points against Malisse, but it was the Belgian who made the most of his chances, breaking once in each set to upset the world number 14.

"It's always tough to play the champion of the previous year because obviously they felt pretty good here, and everybody likes the winner of last year," Malisse told reporters.

"I've been injured for a while, so this time I had no pressure on me ... There was nothing to lose."

The victory was the former top 20 player's first on tour since June.

Stepanek had beaten American Mardy Fish for the title last year and was a losing finalist to Andy Roddick in 2008.

Haas failed to convert five break point chances in the opening set against Istomin, who will play sixth seed Philipp Kohlschreiber in the quarter-finals after the German thrashed Israel's Dudi Sela 6-2 6-0.

Czech fifth seed Tomas Berdych also made the quarter-finals, posting a 6-3 6-2 victory over Finland's Jarkko Nieminen.

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'Bruised' Hauritz itching to get even with 'brutal' Gayle

Published>Thu, Feb 11 10 02:39 PM

Sydney, Feb 11 (ANI): Australian spinner Nathan Hauritz, who was smashed around the WACA by West Indies captain Chris Gayle in the Perth Test in December, believes that he will get another chance before the summer is out against the West Indiaes captain in the three remaining matches of the one-day series.

Pacer Doug Bollinger has dismissed Gayle cheaply in the first two fixtures, meaning Hauritz hasn't had the opportunity to seek revenge.

But the former Queensland bowler said Gayle will overcome his run of early dismissals, and is expecting a return to form at the SCG on Friday, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Gayle, who during the Test series, said facing Hauritz was "like I'm facing up to myself," punished Hauritz on his way to an explosive 102 off just 72 balls in the third Test at the WACA.

Despite being treated with contempt on and off the field by Gayle, Hauritz said he's looking forward to the challenge of bowling to one of the game's great hitters.

"Definitely, he only just had the better of me in the Test series. He's a fantastic player and if he gets going I'm sure there will be an opportunity for me to bowl to him in the one-day series," Hauritz said.

"It will definitely be a challenge, I don't know if I'll enjoy it, but it will definitely be there. As an off-spinner, if you don't spin the ball the other way, you can be easy prey...that's just one of those challenges you face. It can be tough at times but you don't play cricket to be in the easy times," he added.

Hauritz is keen to make his mark in the one-day series, but said he had no plans to bowl any differently to Gayle. (ANI)

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Two million 2010 World Cup tickets sold: FIFA

Published>Thu, Feb 11 10 02:25 PM

Two million 2010 FIFA World Cup tickets were sold in the first three sales phases, according to football's world governing body, FIFA.

"We are content with the ticket sales results so far. We still have two more ticketing phases to sell out the event," Horst Schmidt, the Chairman of the FIFA World Cup Ticketing Sub-Committee, said yesterday.

The announcement came after the fourth phase of ticket sales kicked off on Tuesday. A minimum of 400,000 tickets for a total of 53 matches have been made available in this phase until April 7.

However, FIFA has warned that these tickets will be allocated on a "first come, first served" basis subject to availability.

"It is important for football fans to note that time is very important when one applies for a ticket. The first come, first served principle means that if you do not apply on time, you run the risk of not getting a ticket," said Schmidt.

Tickets for all matches in Mangaung, Nelspruit, Polokwane and Pretoria are available on http://www.FIFA.com/2010 or at First National Bank (FNB) branches for South African residents only

Tickets for 11 matches out of the 64 will not be available at this stage. The football body said a few tickets could still be made available for all matches at a later stage as some tickets, initially allocated to teams or commercial partners, might be returned to the general public sales process.

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Eden Test is going to be an even bigger challenge, says SA coach

Published>Thu, Feb 11 10 02:19 PM

New Delhi, Feb. 10 -- Both Proteas pacer Dale Steyn and skipper Graeme Smith mentioned how stand-in coach Corrie van Zyl had made a difference to the team and lifted its morale during the Nagpur Test. The day after South Africa wrapped up India with one day to spare, Van Zyl, a straight-talking, thoroughly professional "players' coach", opened up on the game and what lies ahead. Difference between this team & one in 2008 I think mentally, this South African team is better prepared. That's the most important part but it's still going to be a challenge dealing with turning wickets and. whatever the wicket is. On the Safs mental strength I was telling the team and the team management that I was really surprised by the mental preparation of the team (when he took over from Mickey Arthur at short notice). Credit should be given to Mickey and what he's put in place. Surprised is the right word but I was happy to see the level of preparation, which made my introduction a lot easier. Does he expect a minefield in Kolkata I won't say a minefield. But we will see what it looks like when we get there. I obviously expect something that's going to help the Indian team. On missing Dravid, VVS and Yuvraj in Nagpur There was no difference in preparation or strategy. If you start thinking that way then you are almost getting into a complacent mood. We didn't change our strategy. You need to take 20 wickets. If you think one person is a lesser batsman than the other person, that's when you start making mistakes. On whether India need to gamble now That's really their concern. We need to look at what we have to do. We will look at the Indian team and see how they will approach this Test in terms of selection. On the Eden track and spin I think it will help the Indian spinners. I need to go to Kolkata and look at it but Harbhajan and Mishra are spinners who turn the ball, they are attacking spinners. The roles (of spinners) are different within the bowling attack and it's a question of knowing what the roles are. On the Proteas pacers hitting the deck hard

Working in partnerships is the way to go forward in batting. In bowling too you got to work in partnerships to put pressure.

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