Ashes: Aussies will err if they leave out 'Mr.Cricket' Hussey, says Arthur

Published>Wed, Nov 03 10 12:08 PM

Melbourne, Nov.3 (ANI): Former South African cricket team coach and now coach with Western Australia, Mickey Arthur has said Australia would be "wrong" if they failed to select out-of-form batsman Mike Hussey for the first Ashes Test against England.

Hussey has scored just two Test centuries since the start of 2009 and failed miserably in Western Australia's recent Sheffield Shield clash in Adelaide, notching a golden duck and three from his two knocks.

South Australian Callum Ferguson and 23-year-old New South Wales run machine Usman Khawaja are two players waiting in the wings should Hussey be axed.

But Arthur said Hussey remained technically and mentally strong and would show his class in the heat of Ashes battle.

"I think Australia would be wrong if they didn't pick Mike Hussey," The Age quoted Arthur, as saying on Wednesday.

He added: "He has a wealth of experience, you need your experienced players in a Test match against England and the first Test match of a series it's really important. Mike's playing well, he's hitting the ball well, he's moving well, there's nothing wrong with Mike."

He said: "He just needs a hit-out somewhere and he'll get that in the one-dayers (against Sri Lanka) and he'll be fine, there's absolutely no problem with Huss at the moment." (ANI)

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South Africa defeat Pakistan by two runs in third ODI in Dubai

Published>Wed, Nov 03 10 11:56 AM

Dubai, Nov.3 (ANI): A fighting century by opening Hashim Amla and a four-wicket spell by fast bowler Morne Morkel helped South Africa pull off a narrow two-run win over Pakistan in the third one-day international played here on Tuesday night.

Pakistan scored 226 for the loss of nine wickets and the Proteas replied with a score of 228 for the loss of nine wicktes, Fox Sports reports.

South Africa, put into bat by Pakistan, owed it to the 27-year-old Amla who carried his bat through the innings with a resolute 119.

It was the right-hander's sixth one-day hundred - his fifth this year - which brought South Africa back into the match after they struggled initially on a tricky Dubai Stadium pitch.

South Africa, who lost the second match in Abu Dhabi by one wicket after Abdul Razzaq's incredible 72-ball 109 not out, this time negated Fawad Alam's brilliant 59 not out which almost turned the tables again.

Rusty Theron kept his nerves to defend 12 runs in the last over as Pakistan lost two wickets and managed just nine runs.

Amla, who has so far scored 986 runs in 13 one-day matches this year. (ANI)

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Ex-Proteas opener Gibbs was a loner, claims Coach Arthur

Published>Wed, Nov 03 10 11:52 AM

Melbourne, Nov.3 (ANI): Former South African cricket team coach Mickey Arthur has described opener Herschelle Gibbs as somewhat of a loner after he criticised the power set-up under him.

Reacting to comments in Gibbs controversial autobiography that said current South African captain Graeme Smith was afforded too much power under Arthur's successful reign from 2005-2010, The Age quoted Arthur as saying that Gibbs, 36, had little idea what was going on around him.

"For the last three years of my time, Herschelle was in and out of the side, he wasn't there for most of the time," said Arthur, who is now coach of Western Australia. I hope he hasn't burnt too many bridges," Arthur said.

"He wouldn't know the conversations that Graeme and I had in private, he had no idea on the handle of relationships between the management and the players because he wasn't privy to any of that. Hersch was trying to salvage a career towards the back end so he was trying anything," he added.

"Hersch was a little bit of a loner, he sort of hung by himself, he never really mixed too freely with the rest of the group," Arthur said.

Gibbs, who battled alcohol addiction throughout his career and had a stint in rehabilitation, hasn't played a Test match for almost three years, although he has featured in one-dayers and Twenty20 internationals this year. (ANI)

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Woods seeks to rediscover winning habit after barren year

Published>Wed, Nov 03 10 11:44 AM

Tiger Woods believes he has become a different person after suffering a year to forgot both on and off the course, but one thing the American insists will never change is his unerring desire to win.

Woods will tee off at the HSBC Champions on Thursday in the unfamiliar position of world number two after his 281-week reign was ended by Briton Lee Westwood last weekend and regardless of his ranking, the 34-year-old has only one thing on his mind.

"I come to every event with the same intention and that's winning a golf tournament, whether I'm ranked number one or not. That has not changed and it never will," Woods told reporters on Wednesday.

The world's top four -- Westwood, Woods, German Martin Kaymer and American Phil Mickelson -- are all playing in Shanghai this week and a victory for any one of them would see them top the rankings when they are released on Monday.

Woods, however, is less concerned about trying to ensure a quick return to the top of the rankings and is more focused on getting back into the habit of capturing tournaments.

"I haven't won an event in about a year," Woods added.

"I've gone through periods like this before in the past. It's a matter of going out there and competing and winning golf tournaments, and winning enough tournaments. It (the ranking) will take care of itself."

Woods was as bullish as ever when talking up his chances this week but when questioned about the events of the last 12 months that has led to the breakdown of his marriage, the loss of sponsorship deals and poor form, he was far more philosophical.

BETTER PERSON

"I look at myself as a much better person than what I was," he said.

"All that I have gone through has certainly made me a better person and has enabled me and forced me to take a look at myself and have become a much better person because of it."

The American has struggled with his game since the sordid revelations of serial philandering emerged late last year and ended the 2010 PGA Tour campaign without a victory for the first time since joining the circuit in late 1996.

"Unfortunately, I had to go through it to get to this point. But I'm looking forward to and working each and every day at trying to become the best parent I possibly can," Woods said.

"Obviously the most important thing is to become a better parent. That's my number one thing. I have two beautiful kids, and just trying to be the best parent I possibly can each and every day," he added.

"I'm much more balanced and certainly a better (person). I had an introspective look at myself and where I was and where I wanted to go and how I was raised.

"I think everyone at some point in their lives has tried to do that. It's not an easy process but it's a process that once you come out the other side, you feel so much better."

Woods enjoyed a strong showing at last month's Ryder Cup and believes his revival of form was more down to the hard work he was putting in to improve his game than his change of outlook.

"I'm trying to get better at golf every day, and that's been ever since I first started playing the game, for as long as I can remember and I started playing since I was 11 months, so it's been a while," he joked.

"It's a hell of a field this week and it's going to be a lot of fun going out there competing and trying to win."

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'Metrosexual' David Beckham reveals hair-free legs

Published>Wed, Nov 03 10 11:28 AM

London, Nov 03 (ANI): Soccer star David Beckham has one more addition to the list of things that make him a metrosexual man-shaving off his legs.

The footballer was spotted with suspiciously smooth pins when he stripped down to his pants to get changed in front of the crowds at a recent LA Galaxy match, reports the Daily Mail.

His limbs have been apparently insured for 100million pounds, so perhaps he'd waxed rather than risk them with a razor.

The naturally not-so-hairy Beckham had previously revealed rather hair-free legs when he posed in his pants in his notorious 2007 Giorgio Armani adverts.

But the star has never confirmed or denied shaving or waxing body hair, or even.

Beckham has previously confessed: "I always liked to look good, even when I was a little kid. (ANI)

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Cronje made a match-fixing offer even before Nagpur: Gibbs

Wed, Nov 03 10 11:08 AM

Johannesburg, Nov 3 (PTI) Herschelle Gibbs has claimed in his controversial autobiography, ''To the Point'' that former South Africa captain Hansie Cronje had made an offer to the team to fix a match in India in 1996. However, an one-time ace opener admitted that Cronje remained a man he would always admire. In a chapter titled ''The controversies'', Gibbs recalled the night Cronje changed the face of the game forever. "It was 6.30 a.m. and knocking on my door was the Proteas team captain Hansie Cronje. We were touring India in 2000, and in Nagpur about to play our final ODI match against India. My roommate Henry Williams was in the shower when Hansie sat down on the bed. He got straight to the point. ''I''ve got a mate here in India,'' he said, ''and you can make some good money if you do what he''s asking. He''s offering US$15,000 if you go out for less than 20 in today''s game.''" But it was not the first time that Cronje had approached his side about match-fixing, according to Gibbs. "This had happened before," Gibbs wrote in his book which was released here on Monday. "During a tour to India in 1996, we were due to play a benefit game for one of the (unnamed) Indian players it would be the last game of the tour. The night before the game, Hansie got the whole team together and dropped a real bombshell. ''I know a guy'', he said, ''who is going to give us US$250,000 if we lose this game.''" Gibbs said the offer was tempting because the South Africans were probably going to lose the game anyway due to the team being below strength with six members of the side being sick. "Of course the team decided against taking the bribe, but even so, it hadn''t been an immediate and strong reaction to an activity totally abhorrent to the notion of sport. Instead we talked the offer over. We declined the offer. Sachin Tendulkar ended up getting a 100 in that game and, predictably, we lost." .

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Indian players don''t drink much, but celebrate noisily: Gibbs

Wed, Nov 03 10 10:36 AM

Johannesburg, Nov 3, (PTI) Indian cricketers don''t drink much but are still loud and noisy in their celebrations, disclosed former South Africa opener Herschelle Gibbs in his autobiography, ''To the Point''. "My Indian teammates might be frustratingly quiet on the field but put a trophy in their hands and the celebrations are about as loud and as noisy as they get," Gibbs wrote in a section on the 2009 Indian Premier League final which the Deccan Chargers won at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. "I don''t think I''ve ever seen guys so happy at winning something in my life," Gibbs further elaborated in his book, which has stirred up a lot of reaction because of his claims of drug, booze and sex excesses during tours. "The Indian guys don''t drink too much having said that, Rohit Sharma can put a couple away when he puts his mind to it and our fines master -- Andrew Symonds, showed admirable restraint by getting everyone in the mood without bringing anyone''s evening to a premature halt." Gibbs also described the official IPL afterparty as "with any bash thrown by former IPL supremo Lalit Modi, there was champagne on tap and plenty of the fairer sex in attendance. Good times were had by all." In another chapter in the book, tilted ''The Future and What it Holds'', Gibbs also referred to the social excesses of the IPL. "The sponsors arrange a lot of social functions to which at least 40 models are invited at a time. Seriously. At least 40 models at every party. Everything has to be ultra-glamorous. This sort of thing doesn''t happen anywhere else in the cricket world, believe me." Gibbs also commented on the enthusiasm of Indian cricket fans, saying, "The buzz at the ground is just incredible to witness in person. You get some idea of the noise the Indian cricket fans generate when you watch it on TV, but actually experiencing it in person is something else. It''s so bladdy (sic) loud that even if you yell at a teammate 25 metres away, he won''t hear you. "The crowd go ape-shit even if you just walk out onto the field prior to the game for a bit of a warm-up. I mean, you have never seen people who love cricket as much as these Indian chaps." PTI FH CM

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20-20 all set to reach Himachal Pradesh villages

Published>Wed, Nov 03 10 10:22 AM

Dharamsala, November 03 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh is all set to churn out the talent of the cricket from its villages. It is going to host 'Jaypee Twenty20 Maha Sangram' on November 13 in the state's Kalpa town. It will be the second season of the tournament, organised by the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) and is expected to see the participation of about 1300 teams and 18000 players. The tournament's semi finals and final matches will be played under floodlights in Dharamsala's cricket stadium.

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NBA - Top pick Wall shines in Wizards' overtime win over 76ers

Wed, Nov 03 10 09:56 AM

Rookie point guard John Wall wowed the Washington crowd in his home debut by leading the Wizards to a thrilling 116-115 overtime victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday.

In a matchup that featured the top two picks in this year's draft, Wall nearly recorded a triple-double with 29 points, 13 assists and nine steals to overshadow first-year Philadelphia guard Evan Turner, selected second overall.

Washington's Cartier Martin took an inbounds pass from Wall and nailed a game-tying three-pointer with 0.3 seconds left in regulation to force the game into overtime.

The winless 76ers (0-4) had a 115-114 lead with 14 seconds left in overtime but Andray Blatche drained two free throws that were enough to give Washington (1-2) their first win of the season as Andre Iguodala missed a shot as time expired.

Philadelphia's Lou Williams scored a game-high 30 points while Turner had nine points and six rebounds off the bench.

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Eighth CSKA Sofia coach of year chases Europa win

Published>Wed, Nov 03 10 09:46 AM

Troubled CSKA Sofia, under their eighth coach of the year, go in search of a first Europa League point of the season on Thursday when seven other clubs could seal qualification with two matches to spare.

Manchester City, Sporting, CSKA Moscow, Zenit St Petersburg, VfB Stuttgart, Porto and Paris St Germain will guarantee a place in the knockout stages if they win.

Milen Radukanov will be in the hot seat when 31-times Bulgarian champions CSKA Sofia seek to restore some fading credibility at Rapid Vienna in Group L.

Radukanov is performing a caretaker role although the terms 'interim' and 'long-term' are almost interchangeable when it comes to describing coaches at the former army club.

CSKA Sofia, twice European Cup semi-finalists during the Communist era in Eastern Europe, began the year with former striker and crowd favourite Luboslav Penev as coach but he resigned in January.

Ioan Andone replaced him, only to quit two months later after picking up two wins in six matches.

"He came here with big ambitions but unfortunately he won't be able to fulfil it," said chief executive Ventsislav Zhivkov.

Andone's assistant Adalbert Zafirov took over on an interim basis until Dimitar Penev, who led Bulgaria to the semi-finals of the 1994 World Cup, stepped up in April.

However, he lasted only one month and by the time Pavel Dotchev took charge in May, Zhivkov was finding it all too tedious.

"It's a bit boring to name a new coach so often (but) I think Dotchev is the right man," said Zhivkov.

Dotchev said: "I will do my best to give our fantastic fans lots to cheer about. CSKA's ambitions as always are to win the domestic double and get as far as we can in European competition."

HEAD HIGH

However, he also quit after two games of the new season, saying: "There were many difficulties and obstacles. I didn't have support in my work but I'm leaving with my head held high."

Then came Sasho Borisov, another interim appointment, followed by Macedonia's Gjore Jovanovski who was fired following a 2-0 home defeat by Rapid Vienna two weeks ago.

Rapid, Austria's most successful club in terms of domestic titles, have three points and could revive their chances in Group L where Porto, leaders with a maximum nine points, host Besiktas who have six.

Manchester City visit Lech Poznan in Group A where former European champions Juventus, who have drawn their first three games, host Austrian champions Salzburg.

Group K leaders Liverpool, unbeaten in Europe this season, host Napoli who have also recorded three draws.

Palermo, beaten 3-0 at home by CSKA Moscow, will not relish their Group F return in Russia.

Sampdoria, who also went down to Metalist Kharkiv, may have a better chance of three points when they host the Ukrainians in Group I.

Holders Atletico Madrid, who notched their first Group B win at home to Rosenborg Trondheim two weeks ago, visit the Norwegians while Paris St Germain entertain Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund in Group J.

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