Playing Test series in India will require adjustment: Ponting

Published Thu, Jun 03 10 12:23 PM

Melbourne, Jun 3 (PTI) Australia captain Ricky Ponting feels playing a Test series in India just ahead of the Ashes at home will require major adjustments in the squad. "It''s obviously vastly different, if you look at the squad that we could probably put out for the first Test in Brisbane compared with the squad you''d think about playing on a spinning wicket in India, they''re probably two completely different squads," Ponting was quoted as saying by ''The Age''. "It''d be nice to get some match hardness into the guys, having not played a lot of Test cricket at that stage, but we''ll come home then and be back into one day cricket in Australia anyway so we''ll just have to manage that as well as we can," he added. Australia''s tour of India later this year was supposed to be a seven-match ODI affair but after India became the world number one Test side, the BCCI requested Cricket Australia to include five-day matches during the tour. CA is yet to respond but there is a possibility that it would not have any problem in accommodating the Indian Board''s request. The Aussies are busy gearing up for the Ashes, aiming to beat old rivals England in the historic series at the end of the year. "We won''t be underdone, there''s no doubt about that, we''ll make sure that hopefully every player will get at least two Sheffield Shield games under their belt leading into that first Test, which I think would be really good preparation," Ponting said.

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Gilchrist warns of Twenty20 overkill

Published Thu, Jun 03 10 11:51 AM

London, Jun 3 (PTI) Former Australian vice-captain Adam Gilchrist has warned of a Twenty20 overkill in cricket in the wake of IPL''s success, saying it is time the administrators give a thought to how much more the players can take. The 38-year-old retired wicketkeeper, who has remained in action courtesy the Indian Premier League, feels the number of matches should be regulated. "The IPL is going bigger next year. How much further can you go? We have to be very smart with it and make sure that we monitor that," Gilchrist was quoted as saying ''The Independent''. "I think we are very close to the limit of how much cricket we can stage in general and T20 has raced to the fore. But, this great tool we have got, let''s not burn it out," he said. Gilchrist said players who choose to take breaks during the season should not be criticised as they are only trying to preserve their bodies for as long a stay as possible in international cricket. "If someone doesn''t play because he has the opportunity to rest, the public shouldn''t beat up on him. They are just trying to be as good as they can for as long as they can, first for their country, then their county," he said. "But the IPL has moved the goalposts and clouded the issue a bit. But as professional cricketers, we have to tread carefully. I know a number of Australian players who have stayed away from the IPL for reasons of prolonging their Test careers and that''s something all players have to weigh up," he added. Gilchrist is the captain of the IPL side Deccan Chargers, who won the title in 2009.

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BCCI pullout from Games stumps ACC

Published>Thu, Jun 03 10 11:17 AM

New Delhi, June 3 -- The BCCI's decision not to send teams for the Guangzhou Asian Games later this year has caught the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) - the body that lobbied to get cricket into the Games - unawares. "It has come as a surprise for us. To pull out at the eleventh hour without any notice or information is surprising to say the least," said ACC president, Ijaz Butt, who's also the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman. On whether Pakistan would send teams for the Games, Butt replied in the affirmative. "Everyone had agreed in principle to send teams for the event. As for us, we are sending the team." He was, however, reluctant to spell out the ACC's stand after India's pullout. "I have been trying to get in touch with the BCCI president (Shashank Manohar) to find out what prompted him to take the sudden decision. Until I get to hear from him, I can't make a comment," said Butt. Indian Olympic Association secretary-general, Randhir Singh, who is also secretary-general of the Olympic Council of Asia, put the ball in the ACC's court.

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Former CEO sues Deccan Chargers

Published Thu, Jun 03 10 11:07 AM

London, Jun 3 (PTI) More than a year after parting ways with the Deccan Chargers, the IPL franchise''s former CEO Tim Wright has filed a 10 million pound lawsuit against it, alleging breach of contract. According to a report in ''The Daily Telegraph'', the lawsuit also "accuses Deccan of illegal payments to an unnamed player which broke the IPL''s salary cap rules." "It alleges Wright''s severance clause of 10 million pounds was not honoured and that his position was undermined when the franchise appointed KPMG to find a buyer for the Deccan Chargers while telling their chief executive it was not for sale," the report said. Deccan had finished bottom of the heap in the inaugural IPL before stunning one and all by clinching the title the next year in 2009. Wright, who left Deccan before the 2009 season for unspecified reasons, alleges that the team hiked a player''s salary without consulting him. "The first defendant (owner of the Deccan Chargers) offered a player a role within the team without consulting the claimant and a pay increase in the player''s IPL contract, contrary to rules of the IPL," the court document states. After Wright left his job, Deccan claimed the Englishman didn''t want to come to India for fear of being arrested for violating the Foreigners Registration Act and visa rules. Wright, in his lawsuit, says that he had disagreements with Deccan owners over a number of deals, including entertainment rights and a tour to Dubai. The newspaper reported that Deccan are responding to the suit and "a date is expected to be set tomorrow to decide whether the case will be heard in London or India." PTI PM

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Modi opposed IPL in Dubai

Published>Thu, Jun 03 10 10:47 AM

New Delhi, June 3 -- Embattled IPL commissioner Lalit Modi turned down a possibly lucrative plan spearheaded by Rajasthan Royals co-owner Raj Kundra to a set up a separate cricket league in the Gulf saying the Indian board would not be party to what he called "unorganised cricket." The London-based husband of actor Shilpa Shetty and Modi exchanged extensive correspondence in April on the issue. Modi's stance seems to fly in the face of earlier reports suggesting he had plotted to set up a breakaway league in England. The mails between Modi and Kundra, the details of which are available with HT, talks of a T-20 league by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), where a consortium from Pakistan had offered to underwrite the event for 10 years paying ECB $10 million (Rs 4.6 crore) per annum. "I have just had initial meetings with Sheikh Nayan (sports and education minister of UAE), Amitabh Bachchan, Amar Singh and Sanjay Dutt," Kundra wrote to Modi on April 8. "If we do don't get the IPL or BCCI associated in some way with the Middle East league, the Pakistanis will come and make a mess of it with no financial gain to any of us and will certainly add to the dilution of our brand."

"BCCI and IPL know how to take care of themselves. Whether Pakistan or ECB, we all are very well tuned to this," Modi said.

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NBA - What players are saying about the Lakers-Celtics rivalry

Published Thu, Jun 03 10 10:27 AM

The defending champion Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics square off in an NBA Finals, that featured the league's most storied franchises.

On the eve of Thursday's Game One at Staples Center in Los Angeles, the players spoke about the rivalry that has developed between two teams who have a combined 32 NBA titles.

* Lakers head coach Phil Jackson: "This is a rivalry that's embedded in the history of the NBA, and for us it's an opportunity that rarely comes to teams. It's an opportunity to play each other again in a series that is a couple of years later (after Boston won the 2008 title)."

* Celtics coach Doc Rivers: "All the players who participated (in 2008) obviously have that feeling of rivalry. I think the guys on both teams who didn't participate in 2008 probably have heard the talk and are probably more aware of it than the guys in 2008 were who hadn't been a part of it. But once the games start, then its own story will be written, and that's what we have to focus on."

* Celtics captain and forward Paul Pierce: "I'm soaking this all in. Being able to help continue the rivalry of the Celtics and Lakers for another year and knowing that when you go back and watch these tapes that I will be on them. It's indescribable. I don't think it's going to soak in until my career is all said and done."

* Lakers All-Star guard Kobe Bryant: "I only think about this one matchup. The happy times of Magic (Johnson) winning against Boston or the sad times of Jerry West losing to them has no impact on me whatsoever. I have a series to play. I have a series to win. I'll just focus on that."

* Lakers forward Ron Artest: "This is my first year as a Laker, so I haven't had anything to do with that rivalry. But I guess after tomorrow after I play, I guess I'll be part of it. I know about (Larry) Bird and Magic (Johnson), but other than that, I was always a Chicago Bulls guy."

* Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo: "I'm just happy to be here. When the rivalry began I wasn't even born. So I'm still trying to catch up with it. But other than that, this is my second finals and this is the Lakers again, so I'm excited to be here playing the Lakers. I'm excited to be here playing anybody. I'm ready to go."

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Insensitive SAI leaves stricken Ajit to his fate

Published>Thu, Jun 03 10 09:53 AM

Chandigarh, June 3 -- The Sports Authority of India (SAI) does not respect Sports Minister, M.S. Gill's, writ! At least that's what it seems in the case of Ajit Singh, a former U-18 inter-zone national pole-vault champion, who has been paralysed neck-down since January 2005. After taking note of the report published in HT on Sept 3, 2009, highlighting the plight of Ajit (23), the Sports Ministry had come forward to assist the Bhiwani-based youngster, who has been confined to the wheelchair since hurting his spine during the School Nationals at Pune five years ago. Gill had ordered SAI on Sept 4 to get in touch with Ajit so that the Ministry could sanction a grant or start a pension. Nine months have lapsed, Ajit is still awaiting aid from the Ministry. Two SAI officials from Bhiwani had got in touch with Ajit in mid-September and collected his medical bills, but since then, it's been radio silence. "If I get some financial help I might live a couple of more years. With each day, my condition is deteriorating," said Ajit. "I injured my back during a meet and the govt should have at least shown a gesture." After the injury, Ajit underwent a couple of operations, including a stem cell implant. But the expense of around Rs 20 lakh has been of little use. To add to his woes, one kidney has failed and the other isn't fully functional.

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Playing rugby, the Army way

Published>Thu, Jun 03 10 09:47 AM

New Delhi, June 3 -- It's a sport dominated by the military as far as India and China are concerned. So, when the two teams took the field in the opening match of the HSBC Five-Nation Tournament, it wasn't surprising that nine of the 22 players doing duty for India were from the army. The physical test that a rugby player endures is well known in a country that may not necessarily know much about the sport. And, perhaps, that's the reason why the sport is so heavily dependent on the army for its growth. Captain Nasser Hussain calls it a complete sport because of the all-round physical demands of the game. "Rugby is not about gym strength alone. Fitness, agility, speed and a host of other factors go into the composition of a rugby side. Bringing the military expertise helps. We try to incorporate military discipline and training in our practice sessions," he says. The inclination towards military techniques in rugby is not restricted to India. Although China lost 94-0 to the hosts, their coach admitted that his side comprised of players drawn from the People's Liberation Army. "We build upon the training these players receive as part of their military training. A little customisation to suit the needs of rugby is given but their military background is an advantage," says Liu Yong. Yong, however, says the sport is also about talent and a military background is not the only requisite. "Good diet, strength-training, cardio, etc go on to make a good team. Civilians have also excelled in this sport. Dedication and love is what counts the most," he said. China have two sides, one comprising of players drawn from the army, while the other has an equal number of military and civilian players. Even the India skipper feels the trend to select the players from the army is not right. "Some of the civilian players are better than the ones from the army in certain respects. Rugby has different needs and we aim to achieve the right combination for positive results," he says.

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Magical Zidane's glory years for Les Bleus

Published>Thu, Jun 03 10 09:23 AM

India, June 3 -- Few players leave a lasting impression on the minds of football enthusiasts the world over. Sublime touches, dexterous dribbling with an alacrity to net seemingly impossible balls, Zinedine Yazid Zidane was France's gift to the football world. But his violent outbursts often contradicted his otherwise placid character, leaving him with noted infamy to contend with. Born to parents of Algerian descent, Zidane joined local club US Saint-Henri. It was during a junior league championship game that AS Cannes scout Jean Varraud noticed the prodigious youngster and signed him to what was to be his home for the next four years. He made his Ligue 1 debut with Cannes at 17 and scored his first professional goal in February 1991. He was then transferred to Bordeaux in 1992-93, and then to Juventus, helping them win two scudettos between 1996 and 1998. Zidane then made his way to Real Madrid on a record transfer fee. He won many titles, including the 2002 Champions League and the La Liga in 2002-03. Internationally, Zidance performed exceptionally. Les Bleus had Zidane as the playmaker, and he scored two goals in the final against Brazil. The team won the Euro 2000. But the 2002 WC was disappointing for an injury-plagued Zidane when France made an ignominious exit at the group stage. Zidane came out of retirement for the 2006 WC, helping France to the title and earning himself the Golden Ball. He became the fourth player to score in two finals but was sent off in extra time for head-butting Italian Marco Materazzi. Zidane announced his retirement after France finished second-best to Italy in Munich.

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Dementieva and Jankovic look to shed nearly-women tag

Published>Thu, Jun 03 10 09:17 AM

Elena Dementieva and Jelena Jankovic, two of the nearly women of the game, will bid for another crack at grand-slam glory in the French Open semi-finals on Thursday.

Russian Dementieva, beaten in the Paris final in 2004, meets Italy's Francesca Schiavone, while Jankovic, the U.S. Open runner-up in 2008, plays Australian Sam Stosur.

In the 2004 final, Dementieva's nerves got the better of her and she won only four games against compatriot Anastasia Myskina.

The fifth seed has reached the semi-finals of all four grand slams but hopes she can cope with the pressure better this time round.

"You cannot think about winning a grand slam, it's a two- week competition and anything can happen," Dementieva said. "I'm just glad to be in the semi-finals. Let's see if I can handle this challenge."

Seventh seed Stosur knocked out four-times champion Justine Henin and world number one Serena Williams on her way to the semi-finals for the second successive year.

"She's beaten two really good players, Justine and Serena, which shows she's in top form," fourth seed Jankovic said.

"I just want to go out there and play my game and give my maximum, and what happens, happens."

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Playing rugby, the Army way

Published>Thu, Jun 03 10 09:09 AM

New Delhi, June 3 -- It's a sport dominated by the military as far as India and China are concerned. So, when the two teams took the field in the opening match of the HSBC Five-Nation Tournament, it wasn't surprising that nine of the 22 players doing duty for India were from the army. The physical test that a rugby player endures is well known in a country that may not necessarily know much about the sport. And, perhaps, that's the reason why the sport is so heavily dependent on the army for its growth. Captain Nasser Hussain calls it a complete sport because of the all-round physical demands of the game. "Rugby is not about gym strength alone. Fitness, agility, speed and a host of other factors go into the composition of a rugby side. Bringing the military expertise helps. We try to incorporate military discipline and training in our practice sessions," he says. The inclination towards military techniques in rugby is not restricted to India. Although China lost 94-0 to the hosts, their coach admitted that his side comprised of players drawn from the People's Liberation Army. "We build upon the training these players receive as part of their military training. A little customisation to suit the needs of rugby is given but their military background is an advantage," says Liu Yong. Yong, however, says the sport is also about talent and a military background is not the only requisite. "Good diet, strength-training, cardio, etc go on to make a good team. Civilians have also excelled in this sport. Dedication and love is what counts the most," he said. China have two sides, one comprising of players drawn from the army, while the other has an equal number of military and civilian players. Even the India skipper feels the trend to select the players from the army is not right. "Some of the civilian players are better than the ones from the army in certain respects. Rugby has different needs and we aim to achieve the right combination for positive results," he says.

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Being your own boss brings pressure, says Armstrong

Published>Thu, Jun 03 10 08:51 AM

Being your own boss can bring its share of pressure and seven-times Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong is experiencing just that this year.

The American, in his second year of competitive cycling following more than three in retirement, is riding with Team RadioShack, an outfit he launched at the end of last season after leaving Astana.

"Last year at the Tour I felt no pressure, absolutely no pressure," Armstrong told reporters after the prologue of the Tour of Luxembourg.

"It was not my team, I did not take a salary. I was there just riding, to do everything with the (Livestrong) foundation."

One of the highlights of last year's Tour de France was the duel between Armstrong and eventual winner Alberto Contador of Spain.

Both were riding for Astana and the relationship between the two quickly deteriorated. Armstrong announced the creation of Team RadioShack after the race's final time trial in Annecy.

"This year is different. This is my team and we put the team together and we organise it, we organise the money," said Armstrong, who finished fifth in the Tour of Luxembourg 2.6-km prologue.

"So with that comes pressure."

There is also pressure on the road for Armstrong, who is trying to make up for lost time in a season hampered by illness and a crash at last month's Tour of California.

"There are still some lingering effects (from the crash) but it's nothing that's going to keep me from training hard, racing hard," he said.

Armstrong, however, needs some competition, after stomach problems forced him to pull out of the Milan-San Remo classic and retire from the Circuit de la Sarthe.

"It's been kind of a year of speed bumps, little hiccups or false starts. The stomach bug in La Sarthe was a big problem, the crash was also a problem but there's nothing we can do," he said.

"The reason I came here is to get four or five extra race days and hopefully (the Tour of Switzerland later this month) will provide those too."

Confidence is high, however, in Armstrong's camp.

"Indications we were getting in California before the crash were good," the 38-year-old Texan said.

Armstrong's team manager and mentor, Johan Bruyneel, told Reuters: "Everything is now in order, he has been to able to train normally after the crash."

Armstrong is riding the Tour of Luxembourg until Sunday before heading to the Tour of Switzerland from June 12-20.

The Tour de France starts from Rotterdam on July 3.

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