Old fox Murali shows his range

Published>Thu, Jul 22 10 10:37 AM

Legend has it that One of the most enduring moments of a younger Muttiah Muralitharan on the cricket field is the big off-break which pitched outside Australia left-hander Justin Langer's leg-stump and turned sharply around his legs to hit off-stump. This was in Colombo in 1990, when the touring Australia academy team was playing a Sri Lanka Board President's XI. The match wasn't broadcast on television, but those who did witness it live say it was as big a turner as Shane Warne's 'ball of the century' to Mike Gatting.

The big off-break that made him a schoolboy prodigy seemed to have eluded him for a while - age was surely catching up - nor was it making an impression in this Test, until Wednesday. Over the past two years this delivery wasn't yielding the kind of dividends Muralitharan expected. Pundits reckoned it was excessive Twenty20 cricket and the overuse of the doosra that led to the slow demise of the looping and dipping big off-break.

Over the course of the Galle Test too, Murali's brilliance of deceiving the batsman into his web of deceit was put on display, but not his ripping off-break. VVS Laxman was foxed by the one that turned the other way on Tuesday evening. He shouldered arms to the first doosra, while the second beat him all ends up. Sachin Tendulkar was undone by a mild turner, while attempting a paddle sweep.

On Wednesday too, Murali didn't give any signs of pulling his weapon from the depths of the backburner. His first ball of the day was a poor one. Mahendra Singh Dhoni got on to the backfoot and carted it towards the mid-wicket boundary. The fifth ball of the same over was treated with disdain by the Indian skipper, who by now was building a useful 74-run partnership along with Yuvraj Singh for the sixth wicket.

Dhoni and Yuvraj were taking India closer to avoiding the follow-on and possibly saving the game.

That's when Murali struck.

The big off-break

The ball pitched outside the off-stump, Dhoni went forward, but so big was the turn that he misread everything. The spin, drift and turn were deceptive. Dhoni was watchful; still his lunge towards the pitch of the ball was defeated by the spin. His bat hung out and he looked ungainly as the ball crashed into the stumps. After sending down ordinary deliveries to Dhoni, Muralitharan had just produced a peach of a ball - the big turner that was first sighted by the locals here.

To the right-handers Muralitharan's ability to get to ball to turn in from outside the off stump was always a threat. It was this very delivery that spun a yard, which foxed and also impressed senior players like Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda De Silva when they played Muralitharan in the nets during the early days. The doosra enhanced his repertoire and the straighter one became a handy variation.

But once the ball from the local folklores was out of the way, Murali was quick to shrug off the nostalgia and get back into the wily bowler mould, with his twin dismissals of Yuvraj Singh.

Yuvraj chose to go after Rangana Herath in the first innings. Twenty one of his 55 runs were made against Herath and that too at a shade over a run a ball. Against Muralitharan he was careful. He picked the doosra in the second last ball of the 57 th over. The wily off-spinner then changed his line and came around the wicket. The next delivery forced Yuvraj to defend on the front foot, but a thick edge flew to Mahela Jayawardene at first slip.

The two wickets - Dhoni and Yuvraj - were key to Sri Lanka forcing India to follow-on. Pragyan Ojha and Abhimanyu Mithun couldn't keep the off-breaks out. Muralitharan's five for 63 saw him move from 792 to 797 wickets, before snaring Yuvraj once more (a replica of the first innings) in the second innings to move a step closer.

In his last Test, it's the off-break that has got him wickets. It's probably befitting that the doosra, his more controversial delivery, didn't grab the headlines.

Source: Web Search

Chhetri set to play against Manchester United

Thu, Jul 22 10 10:27 AM

Kansas City (USA), Jul 22 (PTI) Indian striker Sunil Chhetri is all set to rub shoulders with international stars like Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Dimitar Berbatov as he will take the field for his Major League Soccer club Kansas City Wizards against English giants Manchester United in a pre-season friendly on July 25. Manchester United have confirmed that star players Giggs, Scholes, Gary Neville, Darren Fletcher, Berbatov and Edwin Van der Sar will play in the friendly at the KC Wizards newly renovated Arrowhead Stadium. But the Red Devils'' star striker Wayne Rooney and French import Patrice Evra won''t be seen in action as they recover from World Cup fatigue. United''s top defender Rio Ferdinand will also sit out because of a knee injury. "We''re looking forward to Sunil getting the opportunity to play," Kansas City Wizards Manager Peter Vermes said in a statement. "He''s been working very hard, and this game will give him a chance to measure himself against some of the best players in the world," he added. Kansas City signed Chhetri from Dempo SC prior to the start of the 2010 season, making him the first Indian to join an MLS team. "I''m very excited. It''s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play against the best team in the world," Chhetri said. Chhetri made his first-team debut in a Lamar Hunt US Open Cup play-in match on April 13 when he was named to the starting lineup in a 2-1 loss to the Colorado Rapids. But he is yet to make his MLS debut. "In the three months I''ve been here, I''ve been working hard to understand the kind of game we play in Kansas City," Chhetri said. "It''s been difficult, because I''ve been trying my best to acclimatise. I''m excited. Not personally, but for the whole team and the whole of Kansas City and the whole of America. Manchester United is one of the best in the world. It should be a great experience for all of us. "It''s huge. I''ve heard Americans are more decent than what we have in India. They are crazy. The matches are crazy. You have stones, fires all of that," he added. Chhetri was one of 30 players selected for the Indian team''s ongoing preparations for the 2011 Asian Cup, but coach Bob Houghton indicated the 25-year-old would join the team towards the end of the year following the conclusion of the MLS season. Chhetri was a pivotal player in the country''s qualification process, scoring a hat trick in the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup final to secure India''s spot in the Asian Cup for the first time in 24 years. Chhetri has appeared 35 times for India, scoring 16 goals.

Source: Published>

United beat Union for pre-season win

Published>Thu, Jul 22 10 10:17 AM

English soccer giants Manchester United beat the Philadelphia Union 1-0 Wednesday in a scrappy game against Major League Soccer's newest team.

United emerged with a victory at Lincoln Financial Field but laboured in their second pre-season friendly after beating Scottish team Celtic 3-1 last week in Toronto.

The winning goal came in the 76th minute after Danny Welbeck intercepted a sloppy pass in midfield and ran straight through the defence before passing to Gabriel Obertan who slotted the ball home.

Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov nearly extended United's lead, hitting the crossbar from close range in the 80th minute.

United Coach Alex Ferguson praised Philadelphia's aggressive play.

"It was the sort of game we needed," Ferguson told reporters after the match. "They were very good opponents."

Ferguson said that United was flush with youthful talent this season.

He said he would consider lending Welbeck and Tom Cleverly, who played in central midfield on Wednesday night, to other Premier League clubs to give the youngsters more competitive experience.

The Scot declined to comment on speculation that central defender Nemanja Vidic, resting after his World Cup exploits with Serbia, might leave United, saying, "I can't clarify it at all."

Asked if he would play for the Manchester team this season, Ferguson replied, "I believe so."

United started the game with the novel attacking trio of Federico Macheda, Welbeck and Obertan but while the first half saw the English team dominate possession, their young strikers failed to convert a series of good chances.

The best chance of the first half fell to Welbeck after 36 minutes but he hit his close-range shot directly at the goalkeeper.

Five minutes later, Union's in-form French striker Sebastien Le Toux found himself through on goal but dragged his effort wide.

The Union, in their first MLS season, pressed United hard in the second half and had several chances to take the lead.

The Philadelphia team enjoyed an unexpected victory last week when they beat Celtic 1-0.

With the game still goalless after an hour, United made several substitutions, bringing on Berbatov for Macheda and Darren Fletcher for veteran midfielder Paul Scholes.

The Union could have tied the game in the 89th minute when Andrew Jacobson skied the ball over the bar from just a couple of metres out.

The game's final chance came in injury time to United's Ritchie De Laet, who tried to chip the keeper but saw his effort saved.

Source: Web Search

Bryant joins Woods as most popular athlete in U.S.

Published>Thu, Jul 22 10 09:57 AM

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant proved that winning was the best way to redeem an image when he was named the joint most popular athlete in American sport.

Bryant, a five-times NBA championship winner, leapt from fourth last year to equal first with golfer Tiger Woods in the poll conducted by Harris Interactive.

The poll of 2227 adults was taken during the week of June 14-21, a period book-ended by the Lakers' NBA title victory over the Boston Celtics and Woods' tie for fourth place at the US Open at Pebble Beach.

Woods, who has been embroiled in a scandal over extra-marital affairs since late last year, had topped the list since 2006.

He is yet to win an event since returning from a four-month self-imposed exile and finished tied for 23rd at last week's British Open.

Bryant had been the subject of public scrutiny over an alleged sexual assault charge in late 2003, which was dropped in 2004 but the stigma saw him fall out of favour in the poll.

He rose to fourth as the Lakers reached the 2008 NBA finals, stayed there with their victory last year, before being elevated this year after they sealed their 16th NBA title with a dramatic Game Seven victory over the Celtics.

He was also named as the NBA Finals MVP in 2009 and 2010.

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, a member of the top 10 since 2004, finished third in the poll, with Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre, a regular since 1996, fourth.

World tennis number one Serena Williams topped the women's rankings with her sister Venus second, and Indycar and NASCAR driver Danica Patrick, third.

Source: Web Search

United beat Philadelphia for second preseason victory

Published>Thu, Jul 22 10 08:37 AM

English soccer giants Manchester United beat the Philadelphia Union 1-0 on Wednesday in a scrappy game against Major League Soccer's newest team.

United emerged with a victory at Lincoln Financial Field but laboured in their second pre-season frenzy after beating Scottish team Celtic 3-1 last week in Toronto.

The winning goal came in the 76th minute after Danny Welbeck intercepted a sloppy pass in midfield and ran straight through the defense before passing to Gabriel Obertan who slotted the ball home.

Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov nearly extended United's lead, hitting the crossbar from close range in the 80th minute.

United started the game with the novel attacking trio of Federico Macheda, Welbeck and Obertan but while the first half saw the English team dominate possession, their young strikers failed to convert a series of good chances.

The best chance of the first half fell to Welbeck after 36 minutes but he hit his close-range shot directly at the goalkeeper.

Five minutes later, Union's in-form French striker Sebastien Le Toux found himself through on goal but dragged his effort wide.

The Union, in their first MLS season, pressed United hard in the second half and had several chances to take the lead.

The Philadelphia team enjoyed an unexpected victory last week when they beat Celtic 1-0.

With the game still goalless after an hour, United made several substitutions, bringing on Berbatov for Macheda and Darren Fletcher for veteran midfielder Paul Scholes.

The Union could have tied the game in the 89th minute when Andrew Jacobson skied the ball over the bar from just a couple of metres out.

The game's final chance came in injury time to United's Ritchie De Laet, who tried to chip the keeper but saw his effort saved.

Source: Web Search

Chess tourney to begin on August 1

Published>Thu, Jul 22 10 04:47 AM

The PNG International Rating Pune District Open Chess Championship will soon kick off its second edition, with players of all ages and rankings coming together to vie for the top spot.

The tournament will take place at the Deccan Gymkhana from August 1 to August 9, and has been organised by Global Mind Sports Foundation and the Pune District Chess Association.

The participants will play a total of nine rounds, one per day, in a Swiss league format, with the matches taking place between 10 am to 2 pm.

Prizes will be awarded to the top 15 players, and separate awards have been instituted for the best three players in the Women's, Veteran's (above 60), Under-7, Under-9, Under-11, Under-13, Under-15 and Under-19 categories respectively.

The tournament will be governed by the latest FIDE rules, and players will be allowed a total match time of 90 minutes, with 30-second increments. However, in the case of analogue clocks, the timing will be increased to 2 hours without increments. In case of a tie, the tiebreaker will be resolved by the methods of Buchholz, Med-Buchholz, Progressive and finally a Blitz Game.

Players who hold the titles of GM, WGM, IM, IWM or current National Champion will not have to pay an entry fee. This rule also includes those players with a rating of more than 2400. The entry fees for the remaining players vary from Rs 300 for those with a rating between 2201 and 2399, to Rs 1500 for unrated players.

The last date for submitting completed entries is July 31. Thoseinterested in participating may contact Jayant Gokhale on 9422318271 or Joseph D'Souza on 9850218662.

Source: Web Search

Ponting calls right but suffers d?j? vu

Published>Thu, Jul 22 10 04:37 AM

Winning the toss at Headingley is often not the best thing a captain can do as Ricky Ponting found out on Wednesday.

The Australia captain called correctly in the second test against Pakistan and raised eyebrows when electing to bat, only to see his side capitulate to 88 all out and their lowest test total for 26 years.

It was against Ponting's team that England skipper Andrew Strauss made the same call last year, opting to bat in overcast conditions and watching his side slump to 102 all out on the way to losing by an innings.

"That match crossed my mind this afternoon I must admit," Australia coach Tim Nielsen told reporters.

"It was probably a pretty similar sort of wicket, it swung around a little bit and last year we got on a roll and had everything go our way and we caught everything that went to hand. That time England were all out for 102. It was the same for us today.

"Having had that experience we have got to make sure we don't just get rolled over tomorrow. We've got to be in the game tomorrow night."

Headingley is renowned to be a venue where strange things happen to the ball because of the overhead conditions and when Ponting and Strauss backed their batsmen, they were left to rue their decisions.

Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul was surprised by Australia's decision to bat first, which played into his team's hands with their trio of fast bowlers, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamer and Gul himself. They shared eight wickets.

"It looked like a batting wicket but there was some moisture because it has been raining," Gul said. "When the clouds are out the ball swings but when the sun is out the pitch becomes good for batsmen."

Sadly for Australia, their batsmen did not survive long enough to see the sun.

Source: Web Search

Tiger Woods still No. 1 earning athlete

Published>Thu, Jul 22 10 04:17 AM

Professional golfer Tiger Woods has been off his game since his extramarital affairs were exposed last year, but he is still the world's highest earning athlete, according to two lists released on Wednesday.

Woods claimed the top spot on a 2010 U.S. list of 50 athletes for the seventh consecutive year compiled by Sports Illustrated's SI.com, though his total earnings fell 10 percent to $90.5 million. His total is also down 40 percent from $127.9 million in 2008.

Woods also topped Forbes magazine's 2010 list of the top 50 earning athletes in the world at $105 million, down 4.5 percent from last year as the star golfer has lost such sponsors as Accenture Plc<ACN> and AT&T Inc<T>. It was the ninth consecutive year he topped the Forbes list.

Overall, the average earnings for the entire U.S. list at SI.com rose 11 percent to a record $26.2 million, and were up 1.7 percent to $30 million for 20 international stars.

Tennis star Roger Federer, at $61.8 million, bumped soccer player David Beckham from the top spot he had held the last two years on the international list, SI.com said.

Woods' earnings for the 2010 list are comprised of $20.5 million in earnings and $70 million in endorsements from such sponsors as Nike Inc and Electronic Arts Inc, SI.com said. Woods' endorsement earnings fell $22 million from last year's list.

Woods' personal life took center stage for fans after a car accident outside his Florida home last November brought to light extramarital affairs and led him to make a public apology. He has played several tournaments since his April return from a self-imposed, five-month exile but has yet to win.

Rival golfer Phil Mickelson came in second on the 2010 U.S. list at $61.7 million, and the top 10 included four players from the National Basketball Association, led by LeBron James at No. 4 ($45.8 million), SI.com said.

The top 10 also included boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr (No. 3 at $60.3 million), two Major League Baseball stars, including Alex Rodriguez at No. 5 ($37 million), and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning of the National Football League (No. 9 at $30.8 million), SI.com said.

On the international list, Federer jumped from No. 9 last year as his earnings doubled, while Beckham slipped to No. 3 at $40.5 million behind FIFA world soccer player of the year Lionel Messi at $44 million, according to SI.com.

Rounding out the international top five were soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo ($40 million) and boxer Manny Pacquiao ($38 million), SI.com said.

Basketball player Allen Iverson, No. 8 on last year's U.S. list, dropped entirely out of the top 50, SI.com said. Tennis player Maria Sharapova was the only female athlete to make either list, ranking No. 20 on the international list at $19.9 million.

Rounding out Forbes' top five were boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr ($65 million), NBA star Kobe Bryant ($48 million), Mickelson ($46 million) and Beckham ($43.7 million). Federer ($43 million), James ($42.8 million) and Pacquiao ($42 million) were next on the list, which previously ranked the top 20.

The full SI.com lists are available at http://www.si.com/fortunate50. The Forbes list can be viewed at http://www.forbes.com/sportsmoney.

Source: Web Search

Brazil to name coach in next few days

Thu, Jul 22 10 03:37 AM

Brazil will name a new national team coach to replace Dunga in the next few days, a spokesman for the country's football confederation (CBF) said on Wednesday.

"The name of the new coach will be known between Friday and Monday," CBF spokesman Rodrigo Paiva told reporters.

The favourites to occupy one of soccer's hottest seats include Luiz Felipe Scolari, who led Brazil to their fifth World Cup title in 2002, Corinthians coach Mano Menezes, Fluminense's Muricy Ramalho and Abel Braga, who is coaching in the United Arab Emirates.

Ramalho won three consecutive Brazilian championship titles with Sao Paulo while Braga won the South American Libertadores Cup and World Club championship with Internacional in 2006.

Menezes made his name when he led Corinthians, one of Brazil's most popular clubs, out of the second division in 2008 and guided them to the Copa Brasil title the following year.

With Brazil hosting the 2014 World Cup, pressure to win a sixth title will be more intense than usual.

Brazil were knocked out of the 2010 finals in South Africa by the Netherlands in the last eight and Dunga and his entire coaching staff were sacked just two days later even though the coach had announced he would not stay on in the job.

Dunga won the Copa America and Confederations Cup in his four-year stint at the helm but was criticised for his team's lack of style and finesse.

Brazil's next match is a friendly away to the United States next month.

Source: Published>

Pakistan rip through shell-shocked Australia

Published>Thu, Jul 22 10 01:37 AM

Pakistan turned the form book on its head with an inspired bowling performance to skittle Australia for just 88 on the first day of the second test on Wednesday.

The Australians, seeking their eighth test win a row, folded meekly after winning the toss and Pakistan reached 148 or three at the close to set up the prospect of a first victory over their opponents for 15 years.

Australia, who won the first test by 150 runs, crashed to their lowest total since 1984 when they made 76 against West Indies as Pakistan pace bowlers Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul exploited the favourable conditions.

"When you walk off and you have 88 next to 11 batsmen it's not a good enough total," Australia coach Tim Nielsen told reporters. "We never got a smell of getting a partnership going.

"Pakistan bowled beautifully, hit the wicket hard and didn't just expect the conditions to do it for them. The ball certainly swung around -- we were not good enough to stop the rot."

Nielsen said the Australians had been unsure about whether to bat.

"We were surprised to see how dry the wicket was this morning," he said.

"We thought it was going to be hard against the new ball but would then flatten out to be a nice batting wicket."

Pakistan were satisfied with their performance under new captain Salman Butt.

"It was a good day for us, the ball was swinging and seaming and there would have been pressure for any (batting) team," said Gul. "We will be happy if we can get a 200 lead or 150."

The Pakistanis lost Butt for 45, Imran Farhat (43) and Azhar Ali (30) but Umar Amin and Umar Akmal extended their lead to 60 runs.

MAKESHIFT SUNHATS

By then the dark clouds had been replaced by blue sky and sunshine as fans bared their chests and used T-shirts as makeshift sunhats.

For most of the day, there was only a smattering of spectators in the Headingley stadium despite enthusiastic marketing to a strong local Pakistani community.

The ball still swung as left-hander Butt was undone by a full-length Ben Hilfenhaus delivery that uprooted his leg stump, Farhat was lbw to Shane Watson and Ali was caught one-handed by wicketkeeper Tim Paine.

Earlier, left-armer Aamer claimed wickets with the first two balls after lunch to help finish off Australia's innings.

Aamer, aged 18, bowled Steven Smith with a delivery that swung in sharply and left-hander Mitchell Johnson was bowled by an away swinger.

Australia regularly lost wickets in the morning as Asif dismissed Watson and Ponting and Gul removed Michael Clarke with a delivery that swung in and cut back.

"This team never knows when it's beaten and that's one of our great strengths," Nielsen said.

"We need to make sure we have a good morning tomorrow. We can't afford to have a session where it's none for 100 and be 150 behind at lunch on the second day."

Although the series is being played at neutral venues in England, it is a home one for Pakistan who cannot play in their homeland because of the precarious security situation.

Source: Web Search

Gill for CBI probe of sex scandal in women's hockey

Published>Wed, Jul 21 10 11:37 PM

Chandigarh, July 21 (IANS) A day after hockey player Ranjitha Devi accused women's team coach M.K. Kaushik of sexual harassment, former Punjab supercop K.P.S. Gill Wednesday demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the charges.

After the charges, Olympian Kaushik Wednesday quit as the national women's hockey coach. Hockey India (HI) has constituted a four-member committee to look into the matter.

'This is a very serious issue and we cannot rely on the inquiry of any of the committee. We need a thorough inquiry into this and I demand a CBI probe into this incident. An FIR (first information report) should be registered immediately against Kaushik,' said Gill here Wednesday.

Gill is the former president of Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), which was later dissolved by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

'Even during my tenure as the president of IHF, Kaushik had tried to send an unfit player for a tournament. But it came to our notice ands we stopped him. Therefore, we cannot trust his integrity. I am afraid that IOA people can try to shield Kaushik. There is a strong possibility of involvement of many more names,' said Gill.

A decorated police officer, Gill is widely credited with eliminating terrorism in Punjab in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Kaushik's contract was to expire in November after the Asian Games in China.

Source: Web Search

Queen's baton arrives in Shillong

Published>Wed, Jul 21 10 10:57 PM

Shillong, July 21 (IANS) The Queen's Baton Relay for the 2010 Commonwealth Games Wednesday reached Meghalaya capital Shillong amid much fanfare.

Earlier, the baton was ceremonially received by Deputy Chief Minister B.M. Lanong, who also holds the sports and youth affairs portfolio, at a function held at the Byrnihat, an area bordering Assam, from where it entered the state.

'It's a proud moment for the people of the hill state to receive the baton,' Lanong said before flagging-off its relay at Byrnihat in Ri-Bhoi district.

The relay covered a distance of 84 km, criss-crossing various areas of Ri-Bhoi and East Khasi Hills districts in the eastern part of Meghalaya.

To mark the arrival of the baton in Meghalaya, the Society for Promotion of Indigenous Knowledge and Practice planted saplings near the Umiam Lake.

India's marathoner Bining Lyngkhoi of Meghalaya later handed over the Baton to Chief Minister Mukul Sangma at U Soso Tham Auditorium here.

'Meghalaya has not yet tapped the potential of local youth in sports. There is a need to exploit their potentiality to perform at the national and international level,' Sangma said at the colourful cultural function to mark the occasion.

Sangma later handed the baton to Chef de Mission of the Indian Commonwealth team and Assam Rajya Sabha MP Bhubaneswar Kalita and Baton Relay Director Colonel Kuldip Singh for its onward journey to Itangar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh.

The baton has travelled nearly 170,000 km through nearly 70 Commonwealth countries before arriving in India for the Games scheduled Oct 3-14 in New Delhi.

Pakistan's Olympic Association chief Syed Arif Hassan handed over the baton to Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi, who is also the chairman of the organising committee of the 2010 Games, at Attari border in Punjab June 25.

By the end of its journey, the baton would have travelled over 190,000 km, through different modes of transport across land, air and sea, in 340 days. This will make the baton relay 2010 one of the longest in the history of the Commonwealth Games.

Source: Web Search

Ryder ruled out of Sri Lanka tri-series

Wed, Jul 21 10 10:27 PM

Christchurch, July 21 (PTI) New Zealand batsman Jesse Ryder was today ruled out of next month''s tri-series in Sri Lanka, also involving India, as he failed to fully recover from his nagging elbow injury. "Due to the compressed nature of the tour and his speed of recovery so far we feel we have insufficient time to get Jesse fully fit and able to take part in any of the one-day matches," coach and selector Mark Greatbatch said in a New Zealand Cricket statement. "Therefore we have made the decision to keep Jesse in New Zealand where he will continue his rehabilitation from the elbow injury and return to playing as soon as possible," he said. His absence in the tri-series starting on August 10 has further weakened the Ross Taylor-captained New Zealand side who are already without regular skipper Daniel Vettori and Brendon McCullum, each on paternity leave. Jesse''s replacement will be announced later. Ryder, 26 next month, spent most of last summer fighting a serious groin problem and only returned to the New Zealand side in the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies in May. He entered that tournament with hurt ligaments in his elbow and batted five times for 93 runs before eventually succumbing to the pain again. New Zealand''s opening match is against India at Dambulla on August 10.

Source: Published>

Schleck gambles on beating Contador on favourite climb

Published>Wed, Jul 21 10 10:17 PM

Andy Schleck is gambling on being able to overthrow Tour de France leader and defending champion Alberto Contador on the Spaniard's favourite terrain when the race reaches the Col du Tourmalet on Thursday.

Tour organisers designed this year's route in the hope the race would be decided on the 18.6-km climb to the Tourmalet at an average gradient of 7.5 percent.

Their wish appears to have been fulfilled as Luxembourg's Schleck, runner-up to Contador last year, is trailing the Astana rider by only eight seconds.

Contador, who earlier this year told Reuters the Tourmalet was his favourite climb, took the leader's yellow jersey off Schleck on Monday when the Saxo Bank rider suffered a problem with his bike chain on the final ascent of the 15th stage.

"I will take my revenge," Schleck said at the time, however he shook hands with Contador on Tuesday.

Schleck is considered a match for Contador in the mountains but a weaker time trialist. As a result, there have been countless calculations and discussions in the peloton about the gap Schleck would need over his rival ahead of Saturday's final 52-km time trial to stand a chance of overall victory.

The pair have mentioned 90 seconds as the probable difference between them in the last timed effort, although Schleck cut his estimate to one minute on Wednesday.

"Since the start of the Tour de France, his team mates did a great job in protecting Alberto. They all know how important is tomorrow's stage," Astana manager Yvon Sanquer told Reuters.

"In this stage, we are waiting for Schleck's attack. He made it very clear he would be aggressive."

Both riders marked each other in the first stage in the Pyrenees last Sunday, allowing Samuel Sanchez, third overall, and fourth-placed Denis Menchov, to speed past them in the final climb.

"If they play this little game again tomorrow, we could have someone like Menchov taking advantage of the situation and winning the Tour," Garmin-Transitions manager Jonathan Vaughters told Reuters.

The scenario is unlikely, though, as Schleck is expected to attack from the bottom of the climb, just after the Pyrenean town of Luz St Sauveur when the menacing figure of the Tourmalet appears.

The prospect does not scare the bold Schleck.

"I am in the form of my life," he told reporters in a packed media conference at his Saxo Bank team hotel on Wednesday.

"I am ready to risk my second place to win the Tour."

Source: Web Search

Zafar finds hockey player's allegations weak

Published>Wed, Jul 21 10 09:57 PM

New Delhi, July 21 (IANS) Former India captain Zafar Iqbal, a member of the Hockey India (HI) committee looking into charges of sexual harassment against national women's coach Maharaj Kishan Kaushik, Wednesday found the allegations against the Olympian weak and conspiratorial, looking at their timing.

Zafar said Ranjitha Devi, who Tuesday charged Kaushik of harassment with 30 of her fellow-players signing the letter, could not come out with cogent replies when questioned. Madhu Yadav, the manager of the team, was also present.

'The case is not strong. The girl's complaints were dicey. We have heard both the parties and we will decide on the outcome once we have the replies from both the parties. Kaushik has been the national coach of India since 1991 and many of us have played with him,' Zafar told reporters after a meeting of the committee.

'I cannot rule out conspiracy as it is clashing with the (HI)elections. The girl says this is happening from the past six months, if so why is she coming out now? Also, when I asked whether she faced any physical harassement like touching, she denied it,' Zafar said.

The five-member committee of Rajiv Mehta (chairman), Olympians Ajit Pal Singh and Zafar and Sudharsan Pathak, met both Kaushik and Ranjitha Wednesday afternoon to record their versions.

Kaushik and Ranjitha have been asked to make written submissions Thursday. These, along with the committee's findings, will be sent to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for action Friday.

Pathak also concurred with zafar.

'Kaushik has been deputed for his work by the government of India. He was doing well. There are no allegations against him in the last 10 years. The committee will look into the matter. We also need to verify the girl's claims as this has happened for the first time in Indian hockey,' said Pathak.

HI secretary general Narinder Batra also said that the other girls in the team have denied facing a similiar incident.

'I spoke to the captain and she said the rest of the girls have not faced any such incident. But we want a free and a fair trial and I do not want to mix the elections with the girl's complaint,' he said.

'We heard both the parties who have been asked to submit their replies by tomorrow (Thursday). HI will then send their recommendations to the Sports Authority of India Friday as both Kaushik and the videographer are the employees of SAI. Kaushik has resigned willingly and since it was addressed to the president, I forwarded it to the president,' he said.

HI also sacked the videographer, M. Basavaraja, after photographs of him with a prostitute during an overseas tour, surfaced in the media.

The team left for Asian Champions Trophy in Busan, South Korea, Wednesday evening and Batra said he has spoken to the girls.

'I have spoken to the team and have tried to boost them before the Championships. They have promised to do well,' he said.

Source: Web Search

TNA greats interact with Punjab's budding wrestlers

Published>Wed, Jul 21 10 09:37 PM

Zirakpur (Punjab), July 21 (IANS) Total Nonstop Action (TNA) wrestling's stalwarts Kurt Angle, Mick Foley and Jay Lethal interacted with budding wrestlers here Wednesday evening, and gave them some useful tips to remain fit.

These prominent wrestlers were here as part of their six-day promotional trip to hunt for the TNA wrestling superstar from India. Before coming to Punjab, they had visited Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad.

'India has always been an important market for us. Taking our commitment towards the India audiences a step further we are happy to announce the hunt for the Indian TNA star,' said Dan Steverson, director of international marketing, TNA wrestling, while talking to reporters here Wednesday.

He added: 'TNA wrestling is honoured to work in conjunction with ESPN Star sports in bringing TNA beyond the television screen to our fans in India.'

Kurt Angle, who remained busy talking to young wrestlers most of the time, said: 'We are extremely energized about our visit to this beautiful country which has a great potential for the budding wrestling talent. We have met some wrestling fanatics, body builders and school kids across different towns. In fact, it has also been a great learning experience for us.'

'We are also confident of getting huge entries for this prestigious hunt in the wrestling world as it is one of the most followed sports in India,' Angle said.

Talking about the popularity of Indian wrestler the Great Khali, Jay Lethal said: 'He is a great wrestler, who has achieved really big in this field. Though I have not met him so far, but still I am a big fan of his skills and attitude.'

Even the budding wrestlers were quite enthusiastic while meeting their favourite TV stars.

'It was a dream come true for me. I will surely send my entry and try my level best win this opportunity,' said Gurmeet Singh, a 21-year-old wrestler.

Source: Web Search

Yorkshire wants to host India-Pak Test

Wed, Jul 21 10 09:21 PM

Leeds, July 21 (PTI) Yorkshire county has expressed its keenness to stage a Test between Pakistan and India at Headingley here if the two arch Asian rivals are to play a series at a neutral venue next year. Pakistan have been forced to play home matches abroad because of security fears and there have been talks of them playing India at a neutral venue, most likely in England, next year. "There''s talk of Pakistan playing India next year, and we want to be at the forefront of the queue to host one of those games," Yorkshire''s chief executive Stewart Regan said. "With Pakistan unable to play in their own country at present due to security concerns, it''s the sort of match we''d love to bring to Headingley Carnegie if Pakistan continue to use England as a neutral venue. That''s one of the reasons this week''s fixture is so important to us," he was quoted as saying by ''Yorkshire Post''. He said a successful hosting of the second Test between Pakistan and Australia here has become important in view of the club''s desire for an Indo-Pak match. "If we can make a success of Pakistan versus Australia and put on a really good show, it puts us in the shop window to host a potentially even bigger fixture further down the line," he added. The idea Headingley could effectively become a home from home for Pakistan was one of the reasons Yorkshire opted to forego the Test between England and Bangladesh in favour of the neutral contest. Yorkshire has one of the biggest Asian populations in the country and the club have made determined efforts in recent years to engage with the Asian community.

Source: Published>

Recession hits Barmy Army's travel plans for Ashes

Published>Wed, Jul 21 10 09:07 PM

Melbourne/London, July 21 (IANS) Global recession and weakening of the pound against the dollar is likely to reduce the number of England cricket fans travelling to Australia for the five test match Ashes Series starting Nov 25.

Cricket Australia (CA) is expecting a dip in the number of both British fans and members from the Barmy Army in comparison to the series contested down under between the arch-rivals four years ago. A total of 42,000 England fans visited Australia last time around where the home side defeated the Englishmen 5-0.

'We don't expect the figure of 42,000 this time. The exchange rate has made it so much more expensive. But we still expect a sizable crowd especially from the colourful Barmy Army,' Cricket Australia Spokesman Paul Young told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Members of the famous Barmy Army also acknowledged the recession factor coming in between their love for the sport.

'One of the main song we sing is: We are fat, We are round, three dollars to the pound. We can't sing that anymore,' Barmy Army spokesman Paul Burham told The Guardian.

However, Burham insisted that the demand for the tickets remained high in England as many sporting fans having left with ample amount of cash after their country's early exit from the football world cup in South Africa.

'Quite a few people said that they would be to South Africa if their team reached the semi finals. If not they were saving it up for the ashes,' said Burham

CA said although the number of English fans will go down, still there be a substantial number of fans visiting their country for the most awaited test series of the year.

Source: Web Search

Queen''s Baton arrives in Shillong

Wed, Jul 21 10 08:51 PM

Shillong, Jul 21 (PTI) The Queen''s Baton reached Meghalaya this evening as part of its country-wide relay in the run up to the Delhi Commonwealth Games, in October this year. The baton was handed over to Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Bindo M Lanong at Byrnihat in Ri Bhoi District at around 10:30 am after travelling from Kaziranga in Assam as part of its onward journey to Arunachal Pradesh tomorrow. The baton after arriving at Byrnihat, travelled through the Shillong-Guwahati road in a rally participated by Lanong, who also holds the Sports portfolio, along with officials of the sports department and sports personalities. It passed through Nongpoh, Umiam and localities like Mawlai, Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex, Ward''s Lake in the city before arriving at U Soso Tham Auditorium. People thronged the premises of U Soso Tham Auditorium to have a glimpse of the decorated wand before it was taken inside the hall. International marathoner Biningstar Lyngkhoi of Meghalaya handed over the baton to Meghalaya Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma at cultural programme to mark this historic event. Speaking on the occasion, Sangma said Meghalaya was lacking behind in sports and the government would make every effort to provide avenues for the youth to utilise their immense potential. The baton left Buckingham Palace on October 29, 2009 for its India leg journey. It would finally reach New Delhi in before the commencement of the Commonwealth Games on October 3.

Source: Published>

Inter and Italy would quickly get over Balotelli loss

Published>Wed, Jul 21 10 08:37 PM

Inter Milan's spiky-haired teenage rebel Mario Balotelli seemed to be in constant bother on and off the pitch last season which is why the European champions may consider letting their best young player leave.

Manchester United, Chelsea and his former Inter boss Roberto Mancini at Manchester City have all been linked by media with the mercurial 19-year-old striker despite his misdemeanours.

Inter have said he is not on the market but club president Massimo Moratti implied he could still be sold.

"We don't completely reject an offer without hearing it and we don't put the phone down on anyone," he told reporters.

Balotelli, a confessed AC Milan fan, annoyed Inter by wearing their rival's strip on an Italian TV show earlier this year and even tough taskmaster Jose Mourinho failed to control him during Inter's treble success.

The Portuguese, now Real Madrid boss, gave Balotelli "a mark close to zero" for his display in a draw with AS Roma last year and dropped him from the squad for a month in March after a row.

YOUNG ITALIANS

Inter, whose starting lineup in May's Champions League final did not contain an Italian, would almost certainly not be mulling the sale of their top homegrown player before the season if Balotelli had not caused disharmony in the dressing room.

His antics cost the uncapped striker a place at the World Cup finals but, as the national team's dreadful showing proved, Serie A is crying out for young Italians to shine amid a dearth of domestic talent.

A move abroad, though, could be just what Balotelli needs to help him mature after just nine league goals last term.

"I agree that he is talented enough, a footballer who can change a match with his abilities," former Italy midfielder Stefano Fiore told Reuters.

Italian soccer's racism problem is another reason why a transfer to the more multicultural Premier League could benefit Balotelli, born in Italy but of Ghanaian descent.

He has been the subject of racist chanting, particularly from Juventus fans, and has sometimes reacted with angry gestures, comments or outrageous play-acting.

"I'm not sure it is racism in the strictest sense, because I think lots of idiots insult a player to target them and not because they consider them different because of the colour of their skin," Fiore added.

"It'll take time to defeat these idiots."

Source: Web Search

India look up to Dhoni, Laxman and skies to save 1st Test

Wed, Jul 21 10 08:07 PM

T V Sriram Galle (Sri Lanka), July 21 (PTI) India are hoping that skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and VVS Laxman would bat long enough, like they did against South Africa early this year, and heavens would do them a favour by opening up tomorrow to salvage the first Test against Sri Lanka. Opener Virender Sehwag, only Indian to score a century in this Test so far, said both Dhoni and Laxman can still spoil Sri Lanka''s party. India, who ended the day at 181 for five, are still trailing by 63 runs and need to survive three sessions tomorrow to save the opening match of the three-Test series. "Laxman and Dhoni are able to bat and we are hoping for the rain. On earlier occasion the two did bat against South Africa and we are hoping it will happen tomorrow," Sehwag said a press conference after day''s play. Both Dhoni and Laxman had scored centuries against the Proteas in the Kolkata Test in February and their partnership was instrumental in India''s win in that match. The second day of the Test was washed out without a ball being bowled due to rains. Sehwag also defended his selection of shots in the match as he lost his wickets while chasing out of reach balls in both the innings. In the first innings, he squandered his wicket soon after making his 20th Test hundred by chasing a wide delivery off paceman Chanaka Welegedara and fell to the same bowler in the second essay when he played one away from his body. Sehwag though said that''s the way he bats and he does not find anything wrong in his shot selection. "I don''t think (it was a mistake) to play a cut shot. Out of the 7000 odd runs 3000 runs of mine, have been in cut shots," he reasoned. Sehwag also rued India let Sri Lanka tailenders score too many runs and that tilted the match towards the hosts. "The long stand between Malinga and Herath cost us dear as they put on about 100 runs partnership. If that had not happened we could have avoided the follow on and things could have been different," he said. "It is good to have results in Test matches, but in this case it could be bad for India. Overall you cannot control certain things. We want to bat as long as possible. We do not want to lose a Test match.

Source: Published>

Kaushik resigns, probe panel report on Friday

Wed, Jul 21 10 07:57 PM

New Delhi, Jul 21 (PTI) Stung by allegations of sexual harassment, Indian women''s hockey coach M K Kaushik today resigned from the post as the hockey establishment launched a thorough probe into the sex scandal which has rocked the national game. A day after the sex scandal came to light, Kaushik stepped down as the head coach and vowed to clear his name, saying the allegations were baseless and he was a victim of "big-time conspiracy". Hockey India also sacked videographer Basavraj whose photographs with prostitutes during the recent Canada and China tour were sent to HI through an anonymous e-mail. "Kaushik has submitted his resignation to Hockey India Interim President Vidya Stokes. The president will take a decision," said Narinder Batra, HI Secretary General. Assistant coaches Vasu Thapliyal and Mohd. Khalid Modi will now be in-charge of the team for the Asian Champions Trophy in South Korea from July 27. The Sports Ministry has also taken note of the incident and said it will look into the matter. Batra said the four-member panel, comprising Rajiv Mehta, Zafar Iqbal, Ajitpal Singh and Sudarshan Pathak, will submit its report to Hockey India on Friday. HI, in turn, will make its recommendations to Sports Authority of India. "The panel heard all the parties and they have sought time till tomorrow to make their replies. The panel will submit to us their report on Friday and we will proceed from there," he said. Batra, however, said Hockey India has no power to take action against the videographer or any other coaching staff in connection with the scandal which came out in the open after a written complaint by one of the fringe players Ranjita Devi. "We will submit our report with recommendations to the SAI which can take action according to the government service rules. The coach or the videographer are not working under us. They are employees of SAI. "I have taken legal advice also. Nobody is guilty until proved. But, ultimately it is the job of SAI what action to be taken against anybody who is found guilty," Batra said. Asked how many players signed the letter to HI alleging sexual harassment of a woman player, Batra said, "Besides the player, 31 other players signed the letter supporting her." Kaushik, on his part, maintained that he was innocent and was confident of coming out clean after the inquiry. "The allegations are all baseless. I am innocent. I am confident of coming out clean because I believe in truth and the truth will prevail," said Kaushik, who has been involved with the women team for close to 20 years. .

Source: Published>

Stunned Australia all out for 88 v Pakistan

Published>Wed, Jul 21 10 07:17 PM

Pakistan's Mohammad Aamer claimed wickets with the first two balls after lunch to help reduce Australia to 88 all out for their lowest test total in 29 years on the first day of the second test on Wednesday.

Left-arm fast bowler Aamer, aged 18, first bowled Steven Smith with a ball that swung into him sharply to make it 73 for seven in bowler-friendly conditions at Headingley.

Then left-hander Mitchell Johnson looked to drive a delivery heading for his leg stump through mid-on only to see the ball swing prodigiously away from him to smash into his wicket.

The hat-trick ball to Ben Hilfenhaus was also good, passing the outside edge of the bat close enough to excite the smattering of Pakistani fans in the sparsely filled stadium.

The final wickets fell when Hilfenhaus, attempting a second run, was run out by Umar Amin, and Tim Paine edged Mohammad Asif behind for a top score of just 17.

Australia were bowled out in 33.1 overs at 1400 (1300GMT). Australia's most recent lowest total was 83 against India in 1981.

Aamer finished with figures of three for 20, Asif claimed three for 30 and Umar Gul took two for 16.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting earlier won the toss and batted despite overcast conditions that favoured the bowlers helped by heavy overnight rain.

England were bowled out for 102 at the ground on day one against Australia last year after deciding to bat first.

Pakistan must win to level the two-match series after losing at Lord's. Australia are seeking an eighth consecutive test victory.

Source: Web Search

Scoreboard: India vs. Sri Lanka, Day 4, First Test

Published>Wed, Jul 21 10 07:11 PM

Galle (Sri Lanka), July 21 (IANS) The following is the scoreboard at the end of the fourth day's play in the first cricket Test between India and Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium here Wednesday.

Sri Lanka (first innings): 520 for eight declared

India (first innings, overnight 140/3):

Gautam Gambhir lbw b Malinga 2

Virender Sehwag c Pranavitana b Welegedara 109

Rahul Dravid run out (Malinga/Mathews) 18

Sachin Tendulkar lbw b Muralitharan 8

V.V.S. Laxman c Dilshan b Malinga 22

Yuvraj Singh c Mahela b Muralitharan 52

Muttiah Dhoni b Muralitharan 33

Harbhajan Singh st Prasanna b Herath 2

Ishant Sharma not out 5 28 19 0 0 26.31

Pragyan Ojha c Mahela b Muralitharan 3

Abhimanyu Mithun b Muralitharan 8

Extras (b 1, lb 1, w 2, nb 10) 14

Total (all out in 65 overs) 276

Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Gambhir, 0.2 overs), 2-68 (Dravid, 12.2), 3-101 (Tendulkar, 20.4), 4-169 (Sehwag, 36.2), 5-178 (Laxman, 39.3), 6-252 (Dhoni, 54.5), 7-259 (Yuvraj, 56.6), 8-259 (Harbhajan, 57.2), 9-266 (Ojha, 62.3)

Bowling:

Lasith Malinga 13-0-55-2

Chanaka Welegedara 11-1-69-1

Rangana Herath 18-1-62-1

Angelo Mathews 5-0-19-0

Muttiah Muralitharan 17-1-63-5

Tillekaratne Dilshan 1-0-6-0

India second innings (following on):

Gautam Gambhir c Prasanna b Malinga 0

Virender Sehwag c Mahela b Welegedara 31

Rahul Dravid c Sangakkara b Malinga 44

Sachin Tendulkar lbw Malinga 84

V.V.S. Laxman batting 9

Yuvraj Singh c Mahela b Muralitharan 5

Extras (lb 3, w 1, nb 4) 8

Total (five wickets in 59.3 overs) 181

Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Gambhir, 0.3 overs), 2-42 (Sehwag, 10.3), 3-161 (Dravid, 52.4), 4-172 (Tendulkar, 54.3), 5-181 (Yuvraj Singh, 59.3)

Bowling:

Lasith Malinga 9-2-33-3

Chanaka Welegedara 6-1-26-1

Rangana Herath 14-2-27-0

Angelo Mathews 7-3-13-0

Muttiah Muralitharan 18.3-1-57-1

Tillekratne Dilshan 5-0-22-0

Umpires: Daryl Harper (Australia) and Rod Tucker (Australia)

TV umpire: Tyron Wijewardene

Match referee: Andy Pycroft (Zimbabwe)

Source: Web Search

Hockey sex scandal: Kaushik resigns, videographer sacked

Wed, Jul 21 10 06:51 PM

New Delhi, Jul 21 (PTI) Indian women''s hockey coach M K Kaushik today resigned from his post in the wake of the sex scandal that has rocked Indian hockey. Hockey India Secretary General Narinder Batra told reporters here that Kaushik has submitted his resignation to interim president Vidya Stokes. "Kaushik has submitted his resignation to Hockey India Interim President Vidya Stokes. The president will take a decision," Batra said after a hearing of the player who made the sexual harassment charges, the coaching staff and women''s hockey officials. Kaushik will not be part of the team for the Asian Champions Trophy in Korea from July 27 pending an inquiry into the sex scandal by a four-member panel comprising Rajiv Mehta (chairman), former players Zafar Iqbal and Ajit Pal Singh and Sudharsan Pathak. The videographer Basavraj whose photographs with a prostitute plunged the game into a moral crisis has already been sacked. Batra said the four-member panel will submit its report to Hockey India on Friday and HI will, in turn, make its recommendations to Sports Authority of India. "The panel heard all the parties and they have sought time till tomorrow to make their replies. The panel will submit to us their report and we will proceed from there," he said. Batra, however, said Hockey India has no power to take action against the videographer or any other coaching staff. "We will submit our report with recommendations to the SAI which can take action according to the government service rules. The coach or the videographer are not working under us. They are employees of SAI. "I have taken legal advice also. Nobody is guilty until proved. But, ultimately it is the job of SAI what action to be taken against anybody who is found guilty," Batra said. Asked how many players signed the letter to HI alleging sexual harassment of a woman player, Batra said, "Besides the player, 31 other players signed the letter supporting her." One of the panel members Zafar Iqbal, however, almost absolved Kaushik of any wrongdoing saying that the case of the woman player "was not a strong one" and her complaints were sometimes "dicey". "According to me it appears that the case is not a very strong one. It should have been sorted out much earlier. It had been going on for around six months. I am not defending anybody, who are guilty will come out soon. "But the coach (Kaushik) has been attached with the women''s team since 1991 and no complaint had come earlier. He also played hockey with us and we know him. Sometimes her allegations are very dicey," said the former captain.

Source: Published>

''Aphrodisiac'' wins C R Bhoopal Memorial Cup

Wed, Jul 21 10 06:37 PM

Hyderabad, Jul 21 (PTI) Four-year-old ''Aphrodisiac'' ably ridden by Ashhad Asbar won the C R Bhoopal Memorial Cup about 1200 metres for Category II horses, the chief event on the first day the Hyderabad Monsoon Races held here today. The winner is jointly owned by Mr and Mrs M Suresh Kumar Reddy and Dr and Mrs Syed Aniuddin Arif and trained by S Abbas. ''Flowers of Music'' (Jockey A Ramana up) claimed the Nelston Cup, the supporting event of the day. Jockey A Imran K scored a treble while Trainer L D''silva and Faisal Hassan scored a double. Two first favourites obliged in a card of nine events. PTI CVP VKV

Source: Published>

India face herculean task to save the match

Wed, Jul 21 10 06:21 PM

T V Sriram Galle (Sri Lanka), July 21 (PTI) India were faced with a daunting task of saving the first cricket Test after spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan scalped six wickets in his last match to put Sri Lanka within sniffing distance of a victory here today. Muralitharan claimed of 5 for 63 in the first innings and added another wicket in the second to be just two short of the 800-mark as India were skittled out for 276 in their first innings in response to the home team''s total of 520 for eight declared. Asked to follow on, the Indians were struggling at 181 for five at close on an eventful penultimate day, still needing 63 runs to avoid the embarassment of an innings defeat. The visitors lost Gautam Gambhir (0) and first innings centurion Virender Sehwag (31) early but the experienced duo of Rahul Dravid (44) and Sachin Tendulkar (84) steadied the innings to some extent with a 119-run partnership. But both Dravid and Tendulkar''s dismissal at the fag end of the day off Lasith Malinga swung the game decisively in Sri Lanka''s favour. Then Yuvraj Singh (5) perished just before close of play to compound India''s misery. With one day remaining in the rain-hit Test, the Indians will have to bat out of their skin to save the match and much will depend on how long VVS Laxman and M S Dhoni can hold fort tomorrow. Like on all the other days, the hosts dominated the proceedings by first dismissing the Indians cheaply in the first innings and tightening the grip on the match by evicting the two openers in quick succesion. India largely relied on Sehwag, who notched up his 20th Test century, while Yuvraj Singh (52) and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (33) were the other notable scorers in the first innings. Earlier, resuming at the overnight score of 140 for three, the Indians lost wickets at regular intervals in the pre-lunch session to allow the home team to gain complete control. Sehwag resumed at his overnight score of 85 and got out soon after completing his hundred much to the disappointment of his teammates. At the start, Sehwag was his usual aggressive self as he dispatched paceman Chanaka Welegedara to the boundary twice and then gave a similar treatment to Angelo Mathews to reach his century. He continued his good show at this venue, where he had scored a double hundred in 2008, and his hundred came in quick time, off just 108 balls and with 18 fours and a six. More PTI TVS MRM

Source: Published>

France's Ribery faces uncertain months over sex case

Published>Wed, Jul 21 10 06:17 PM

French soccer star Franck Ribery faces month of uncertainty, threatening his mental stability, after being placed under judicial investigation on suspicion of soliciting sex with an under-age prostitute, his lawyer said on Wednesday.

The Bayern Munich winger, along with international team mate Karim Benzema, who was also placed under investigation, will now have to wait for police to unravel a prostitution ring centred around a night club in Paris's Champs Elysees district.

This is the first stage of criminal proceedings that can lead to charges. The offence carries a maximum three-year jail term and a 45,000-euro ($58,000) fine, but a conviction hinges on proving the accused knew the girl was under 18.

"I would say this unfavourable treatment is liable to ruin his concentration and attack the mental balance of a guy who for two months has already been extremely destabilised by this case," Sophie Bottai told Europe 1 radio.

Police had postponed the hearing until after the World Cup, in which Ribery was part of the disastrous French campaign which led to a public outcry after players protested against the coach and the team crashed out without winning a game.

Bottai said her client was "dismayed" about the magistrate's decision. The girl at the centre of the probe had told Ribery she was 20, the lawyer said. She was just 17 at the time.

According to French law, paid sex with someone under 18 is deemed sex with a minor.

The lawyer said she would apply after the summer recess to have the case dismissed.

"The investigation has been going on for two months (and) confirms even more he could not have known her age," she said.

The scandal took a twist when the young woman, Zahia Dehar, gave an interview in April, implicating players and denying being a prostitute.

She said Ribery, married with two children, had invited her to Munich in April 2009 to celebrate his 26th birthday, adding that he had paid her for three encounters last year.

CLUB, COUNTRY FUTURE UNCERTAIN

Ribery was the most popular player before the World Cup fiasco, in which 'Les Bleus' were eliminated in the first round without winning a match. He was branded as one of the ringleaders in a revolt by players who boycotted a training session before their final game.

The playmaker extended his Bayern Munich contract until 2015 before the tournament with German media reporting his annual salary would be around 10 million euros ($12.5 million).

This week his club manager said he expected to see the player return to the highest level after an injury-ravaged year.

France's Health and Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot and junior sports minister Rama Yade have previously said that any player under judicial investigation should not represent France.

"It's not a good example of a man to give to France's youth," junior minister Fadala Amara said.

New coach Laurent Blanc, nicknamed "The President" in his playing days, has been given the mission to restore the team's pride and has made clear discipline will be key.

The first sign will come when he names his first squad for France's friendly against Norway in Oslo on Aug. 11.

Source: Web Search

Success elude Merchant and Chandra in Six-Red World Snooker

Wed, Jul 21 10 06:07 PM

New Delhi, July 21 (PTI) Veteran Yasin Merchant and Manan Chandra will return empty handed from Sangsom Six-Red World Snooker Championship as both of them have failed to win a single match at the event in Bangkok. Merchant has lost three and Chandra four out of the five preliminary stage matches. Even if they win their remaining matches, they cannot qualify for the pre-quarterfinal stage. Merchant, who was drubbed 5-0 by Australia''s Glen Wilkinson on the opening day, suffered twin defeats last night which put him out of contention. Chandra also lost of both his matches in Group D last night, taking the tally of defeats to four out of four. Chandra had earlier lost to Wales'' Andrew Pagett 5-2 and Thailand''s Rachapol Pu-Ob-Orm 5-4 on the first day. Playing in Group ''C'', Merchant failed to showcase his cue control and masterly dipping of the multicolored for which he is famous for and went down to Thailand''s Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (1-5) 22-41 01-36 20-32 00-41 43-03 09-37. Bespectacled Merchant struggled against Thai from the vey onset of the match who offered very little opportunities. Thepchaiya carved out two superb breaks of 41 en route to a resounding victory. In his second match, things didn''t get better for the Indian as English strong-man Mark Selby outclassed him with an identical 5-1 frameline. Selby kept Merchant under pressure with lovely safety positional play and with touch of softness dipped the colored ball in different pockets much to the liking of the audience. Merchant lost 14-29 31-34 08-48 42-00 00-69 00-59. Last three frames witnessed better brand of potting and positional play from Selby. In Group ''D'', Chandra once again failed to lift his game at the crucial junctures and lost both his matches after a brief fight. Chandra''s early strides were ended in a blaze of glory by England''s Nigel Bond in the first encounter who defeated him 5-1. The 2006 IBSF world championship semi-finalist Chandra failed to peak at the right time and lost 60-01 08-55 06-52 00-77 00-61 11-46. In the last match of the day, Chandra, however, showed nerves of steal in a highly pressure situation when he turned the table on Englishman Gerard Greene, winning the first three frames. But Greene, in a dramatic turn around, grabbed the fourth and then last four frames to cause upset. Chandra went down 38-00 61-00 58-00 25-34 34-31 00-39 00-42 20-45 34-36.

Source: Published>

Morgan can become Test star, predicts Boycott

Published>Wed, Jul 21 10 05:37 PM

London, Jul 21 (ANI): Former England opener Geoff Boycott has predicted that unorthodox batsman Eoin Morgan has the game in place to become a Test star.

Boycott, who built his own reputation as one of the world's toughest batsmen, has re-released his classic book "Play Cricket The Right Way" a cartoon-style instruction manual on the basics of the game.

Morgan, who made his name in one-day and Twenty20 cricket, can stake his claims for an Ashes berth this winter in the upcoming Test series against Pakistan.

Boycott said fans should not write him off in the longest form of the game because of his switch-hits and reverse-paddle shots in limited overs cricket, The Sun reports.

"The guys that have good technique can play all forms of the game. People say Eoin Morgan is unorthodox, but he's not. Yes, he can open the face and nudge the ball into gaps," Boycott said.

"On top of that, because the game has moved on with Twenty20, he has inventive shots. His basic grounding though is very straight, his footwork is good. The fundamentals of his game are there," he added. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Sutil hoping to exploit home conditions at German Grand Prix

Wed, Jul 21 10 05:21 PM

Hockenheim (Germany), July 21 (PTI) All set to race on a circuit where he has won many races as a junior, Adrian Sutil is confident of exploiting the home conditions to continue his points spree for Force India at the German Grand Prix here on Sunday. "I''ve raced at Hockenheim a lot of times with many different cars: in Formula Ford, Formula BMW and now F1 and I''ve had some of my strongest races there. I had a few wins and always when I finished I was on the podium. "Now it will be a great feeling to go there with a really competitive F1 car and try to get the same success I achieved in my junior career," Sutil, who is one of the six German drivers along with legendary Michael Schumacher in the weekend Grand Prix, said. Sutil, who finished eighth at Silverstone after a stiff fight with Sebastian Vettel, is keen to erase the memories of his last race in the home country when he could not score points despite making Q3. "To get some points on my home ground - for the first time in F1 - would be a great feeling. Last year at the Nurburgring I started seventh but finished out of the points so I really want to try and finish the job now. We have a car that can do it and some small developments that should help," he said. The chairman and team principal Vijay Mallya said it''s time that the team shows their car''s real potential. "We have struggled a little in qualifying for various reasons, but we are improving and learning all the time and I hope that we''ll see a qualifying performance in Hockenheim that is more representative of the actual pace of the car. "If you look at what we presume to be the strengths and weaknesses of the car, Hockenheim is not as ideal as Spa or Monza. Having said that, it''s Adrian''s home race, and we are going to give it everything that we have," he said. "There are no dramatic updates, some tweaks to the rear wing and the rear suspension but I hope we''ll hold position relative to where we were in Silverstone. If we can get both cars in the top ten in qualifying that will set us up very well for the race and I hope get another double points finish," he added. Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi, who had a superb race at Silverstone by staving off strong competition from Fernando Alonso, also said that qualifying holds the key for their team. "We''ve really got to concentrate on getting into Q3 this race. We can easily get into Q2 but then we struggle a little to get the soft tyres to warm up. "Adrian''s had a similar issue in that on Saturday morning we are really confident after final practice, but in the afternoon it can go a bit wrong. If we can get the qualifying right - as we saw in Canada - then the race will come to us," he said.

Source: Published>

'I'm a virgin,' says Brit Asian boxer Amir Khan

Published>Wed, Jul 21 10 04:53 PM

London, July 21 (ANI): WBA Light Welterweight champ Amir Khan of Britain has told a boxing magazine that he was single and has never had sex.

He revealed that he would love to have curvy US telly babe Kim Kardashian as his dream date.

Asked for his "favourite sex position" Khan replied, and the Daily Star quoted him as saying: "Errr, I'm a virgin."

uizzed if he had a girlfriend, he said: "No, I'm proper single.

If I did she would be a size eight with a good personality."

Khan, who stopped Paulie Malignaggi, 29, in New York's Madison Square Garden to retain his world title earlier this year, later confirmed the revelation on Twitter. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Can't wait to play alongside Cole: Gerrard

Published>Wed, Jul 21 10 04:27 PM

London, Jul 21 (ANI): Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has provided a major boost to the club by pledging to stay at Anfield, and said he cannot wait to play alongside new signing Joe Cole.

Skipper Gerrard, 30, returned to Melwood for pre-season training yesterday and put the record straight on his own plans.

He revealed how new boss Roy Hodgson convinced him to stay after his relationship with ex-chief Rafa Benitez unravelled last season, The Sun reports.

"I made it clear I needed to concentrate on the World Cup, then have a decent holiday with my family. I wanted the chance to meet Roy Hodgson and having done so, I'm very impressed with his plans," Gerrard said.

"I've only returned to training today at Melwood with some of the other World Cup players but I can't wait for the new season to start," he said.

Gerrard is also relishing the chance to play alongside England teammate Cole.

The Anfield hero played a key role in persuading the midfielder to leave London while they were together in South Africa.

"I have seen first hand just how good Joe is. He has proved his ability over many years, sometimes against us - so it'll be fantastic to play alongside him in a red shirt for Liverpool," Gerrard said.

"I've told him what a great club this is and I'm sure Joe's the sort of exciting talent our fans will love to see. It's a great signing for us," he added. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Taylor defends continuation of 'enjoyable' ODIs

Published>Wed, Jul 21 10 04:23 PM

Auckland (New Zealand), July 21 (ANI): New Zealand middle order batsman Ross Taylor has said that one-day cricket doesn't need to be changed.

The Manawatu Standard quoted the 26-year-old, who will captain New Zealand on their one-day tour of Sri Lanka, starting on August 10, as saying: "I guess with the power plays, it makes it a little bit more interesting. Obviously the big carrot going forward is the World Cup."

Taylor said punters only had to look at last year's Champion's Trophy in South Africa to see how one-day cricket could be exciting.

"I'm looking forward to it. I enjoy one-day cricket," Taylor said of the upcoming series.

He said: "Getting some experience in the subcontinent will be vital going into the World Cup." (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Tea scoreboard: India vs. Sri Lanka, Day 4, First Test

Published>Wed, Jul 21 10 04:07 PM

Galle (Sri Lanka), July 21 (IANS) Scoreboard at tea on the fourth day of the first cricket Test between India and Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium here Wednesday.

Sri Lanka (first innings): 520 for eight declared

India (first innings, overnight 140/3):

Gautam Gambhir lbw b Malinga 2

Virender Sehwag c Pranavitana b Welegedara 109

Rahul Dravid run out (Malinga/Mathews) 18

Sachin Tendulkar lbw b Muralitharan 8

V.V.S. Laxman c Dilshan b Malinga 22

Yuvraj Singh c Mahela b Muralitharan 52

Muttiah Dhoni b Muralitharan 33

Harbhajan Singh st Prasanna b Herath 2

Ishant Sharma not out 5 28 19 0 0 26.31

Pragyan Ojha c Mahela b Muralitharan 3

Abhimanyu Mithun b Muralitharan 8

Extras (b 1, lb 1, w 2, nb 10) 14

Total (all out; 65 overs; 296 mins) 276

Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Gambhir, 0.2 overs), 2-68 (Dravid, 12.2), 3-101 (Tendulkar, 20.4), 4-169 (Sehwag, 36.2), 5-178 (Laxman, 39.3), 6-252 (Dhoni, 54.5), 7-259 (Yuvraj, 56.6), 8-259 (Harbhajan, 57.2), 9-266 (Ojha, 62.3)

Bowling:

Lasith Malinga 13-0-55-2

Chanaka Welegedara 11-1-69-1

Rangana Herath 18-1-62-1

Angelo Mathews 5-0-19-0

Muttiah Muralitharan 17-1-63-5

Tillekaratne Dilshan 1-0-6-0

India second innings (following on):

Gautam Gambhir c Prasanna b Malinga 0

Virender Sehwag c Mahela b Welegedara 31

R Dravid batting 12

Sachin Tendulkar batting 21

Extras (lb 1, nb 3) 4

Total (for two wickets in 21 overs) 68

Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Gambhir, 0.3 ov), 2-42 (Sehwag, 10.3 ov)

Bowling:

Lasith Malinga 5-1-18-1 (2nb)

Chanaka Welegedara 6-1-26-1 (1nb)

Ragana Herath 5-0-10-0

Angelo Mathews 2-1-2-0

Muttiah Muralitharan 2-0-11-0

Umpires: Daryl Harper (Australia) and Rod Tucker (Australia)

TV umpire: Tyron Wijewardene

Match referee: Andy Pycroft (Zimbabwe)

Source: Web Search

Hockey sex scandal: coach withdraws, videographer sacked

Published>Wed, Jul 21 10 03:57 PM

Rattled by allegations of sexual harassment, Indian women's hockey coach MK Kaushik on Wednesday withdrew from the team's upcoming tours even as Hockey India sacked the videographer Basavraj whose photographs with a prostitute plunged the game into a moral crisis.

Kaushik has withdrawn himself from the Asian Champions Trophy in Korea from July 27 pending an inquiry into the sex scandal by a four-member panel comprising Rajiv Mehta (chairman), former players Zafar Iqbal and Ajit Pal Singh and Sudharsan Pathak.

"I must talk to the coach and the girl who has made the allegations of sexual harassment separately. Kaushik has withdrawn his name because he wants his name to be cleared," HI President Vidya Stokes said.

"In the meanwhile, the assistant coach will travel with the team. Hopefully, everything would be sorted out by today," she said.

"We will have to look for a new coach and that would be done after consulting the Sports Authority of India," added HI's Secretary General Narinder Batra.

HI will also form a five-member committee as per Supreme Court guidelines on sexual harassment cases.

"As per the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court, we will have a panel in which at least half or more than half the members would be women. This would be done by tomorrow and hopefully it would give its recommendations before next month's World Cup in Argentina so that we can either have a new coach or reinstate Kaushik if he is found innocent," Batra said.

Batra said he received an anonymous mail on last Friday, in which allegations had been levelled against Basavraj for having been involved with prostitutes during the tours of Canada and China.

He said five photographs of the videographer with the prostitutes had also been mailed to him. Batra said the Sport Ministry has been apprised of the complaints.

"The inquiry committee was constituted soon after I got a mail from the hockey team. After a meeting on July 19, it was decided that the videographer should be suspended and the rest of staff against whom the allegations have been made should be issued notices," he said.

"The videographer is basically a SAI employee and it is upto them now, how they want to act against him. On our part we have sacked him," Batra said.

Asked what punishment HI would hand out to the coaching staff if found guilty, Batra said, "The best we can do is impose life bans but if we can take up the matter with the police and take it to the logical conclusion, we can do that as well."

Kaushik will attend the probe panel's meeting this afternoon.

Meanwhile, the defunct Indian Hockey Federation chief KPS Gill said HI was trying to hush up the matter.

"There should be a proper police inquiry into it. The Supreme Court has stated that whenever a lady makes a sexual harassment allegations, her complaint should be taken on face value," he said.

"This inquiry is an eyewash. It should be handed over to the police. I know these people, at the end of the inquiry they will come out and say, nothing happened," he alleged.

It's a conspiracy against me: Kaushik

Stunned by allegations of sexual harassment against him, Indian women's hockey coach M K Kaushik said the scandal is a conspiracy hatched by players who failed to get a place in the national side.

"This is a big-time conspiracy against me with many hands behind it. Those who failed to earn a place in the national team have come out with such a cheap act," Kaushik said.

Kaushik has withdrawn from the Asian Champions Trophy in South Korea from July 27, insisting that it was his moral duty to step aside until proven innocent.

"I will prove my innocence. I can't believe that one can go to such an extent to level charges against me," he said.

Source: Web Search

Kapil to bring Indian migrant''s ashes from Australia

Wed, Jul 21 10 03:53 PM

Melbourne, Jul 21 (PTI) Legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev is all set to fulfill the last wish of an Indian migrant to Australia who died more than six decades ago. Kapil will land in Australia this weekend to collect the ashes of one Pooran Singh and take them to India for immersion. Kapil will also attend a ceremony organised by the Victorian Sikh Community this Sunday to collect the ashes. Pooran, who migrated to Australia 111 years ago, had wished that his ashes be immersed in River Ganges. Alice Guyett-Wood, owner of the funeral company which took care of the ashes for the last 63 years, said, "it is fantastic and an emotional moment for us to have his last wish fulfilled." Pooran was cremated in June 1947 with his relatives in India being notified of his death by telegram. Ever since, Singh''s ashes have been kept safe by an Australian family funeral company Guyett''s Funerals in Warrnambool. Although no one has come forward to collect the ashes, they have been preserved for their final journey to India and accorded pride of place at the Warrnambool cemetery. Pooran was 30 when he left India and landed on Australian soil in 1899. He worked as a hawker, selling goods laden in his horse-drawn cart, travelling from one country town to the other. He had left his family behind in Punjab and spent the remaining 47 years of his life in Victoria. He died in 1947 at the age of 77. Pooran had instructed that he be cremated and not buried. His body was sent to this city as it had the only crematorium in Victoria at that time. Alice told PTI the ashes were passed from generation to generation and she and her brother took care of them after her father Jack Guyett died in 1986. "We didn''t have the authority to dispose them off, so we just held them. We were not able to locate his relatives," she said. She said the wagon used by Pooran for selling goods is now showcased in Flagstaff Hill. Pooran''s Warrnambool base was a farm owned by John and Vera Moore known as Glenmore. Moore was one of the executors of his will, ensuring that his estate was distributed to a few Warrnambool residents and to his four nephews in India. His son John Moore is the fourth generation of the family to own the property today. Moore had kept the wagon at his property in Glenmore before donating it to Maritime Museum.

Source: Published>

South Korea appoint Cho as new soccer coach

Wed, Jul 21 10 03:47 PM

Cho Kwang-rae has been appointed coach of the South Korean national soccer team, the Korean Football Association (KFA) said on Wednesday.

Gyeongnam FC boss Cho replaces Huh Jung-moo, who stepped down after guiding the Asian side to the second round of the World Cup finals in South Africa last month.

"We had been looking into two or three candidates, including Cho, and the technical panel unanimously opted to select Cho as the next national team coach," chairman of the KFA's technical committee Lee Hoi-taek told the Yonhap News agency.

"Cho is enterprising and always trying to catch new trends of world football like England, Germany, Italy and Brazil."

The former South Korean midfielder's first match in charge will be the home friendly against Nigeria on Aug. 11.

"It's a great honour to be the national team coach," Cho, 56, said.

"I'm not scared of taking the helm of the national team. I've been working hard to be a good leader. I want to make a team that will bring joy to the Korean people."

Cho's first major task will be to win the Asian Cup in Qatar, which begins in January.

The twice champions have been drawn with Australia, Bahrain and India in Group C of the 16-team tournament.

Source: Published>