Playing partners Mickelson, McIlroy flourish at Firestone

Published>Fri, Aug 06 10 08:05 AM

Playing partners Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy formed their own mutual admiration society as they charged into contention at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Thursday.

World number two Mickelson fired an opening round four-under-par 66 and eighth-ranked McIlroy began with a 68, both of them recovering from untidy starts with sparkling runs after the turn.

"We fed off each other on the back nine," Northern Irishman McIlroy told reporters after coming home in three-under 32. "Phil played a couple of great shots and chipped in on the sixth hole, which was one of the best shots I've seen all year.

"He struggled early on but had a great finish. He's a great player and that's what great players do. They hang in there and make a score out of something that wasn't necessarily there."

American left-hander Mickelson holed out with a lob wedge from 50 feet right of the green at the par-four sixth as he covered his first nine holes in a sizzling five-under 30.

The four-times major winner, who clinched his first World Golf Championships title at last year's WGC-CA Championship in Miami, said he always relished McIlroy's company despite their age difference.

"I do enjoy playing with Rory," the 40-year-old added. "He's fun, he's interesting and he's a smart guy so we always have intelligent conversation."

Both players are installing state-of-the-art practice facilities at their respective homes, and this was among the various topics they discussed together at Firestone Country Club on Thursday.

"He's really got a great demeanour, always upbeat and great to be around, not to mention his talent," said Masters champion Mickelson. "We get to play together again tomorrow."

McIlroy shot a course record 10-under 62 to win his maiden PGA Tour title at the Quail Hollow Championship in May and Mickelson has become an unabashed fan of the 21-year-old's game.

"I look at the guys today who are young, in their teens and 20s -- Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler and Ryo Ishikawa and some of these other young kids," Mickelson said.

"Their ball striking is so superior to where myself or other players of my age were at when we were in our teens and 20s. Their ball striking is just extremely impressive."

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Butt searching for 'experience' to counter England's aggression in second Test

Published>Thu, Aug 05 10 01:28 PM

London, Aug.5 (ANI): Following the stunning batting collapse in both the innings of the first Test against England, Pakistan skipper Salman Butt has hinted at some changes in the squad for the second Test at Edgbaston starting Friday (tomorrow), saying some 'experience' was needed to match the mighty hosts.

Butt said that some more experienced players should in included in the team to give it a more 'solid look.'

"I have some changes in my mind. I think some experience is required to match England on their favourite home ground. What we want is to play with the best possible strength to counter the home team's aggression," The News quoted Butt, as saying.

Butt, however, added that it was important to continue giving youngsters more exposure in order to prepare them for future.

"These youngsters need experience and unless and until you continue with them you can't make them reliable for future international cricket. But, at the same time we will try to play the best available combination," said Butt.

When asked that whether adding 'experience' to the final eleven for the second Test means that former skipper Mohammed Yousuf and opener Yasir Hameed would be included in the team, the Pakistan skipper refused to reveal his cards.

"Yousuf is due to reach here on Thursday (today). We don't know whether he is willing to play in the second Test or needs some practice. Still I have couple of changes in my mind but until and unless you get a clear picture of what sort of combination you will have at your disposal, you can't make a final plan," Butt said.

After having suffered a humiliating 354 defeat in the first Test in Nottingham inside four days, Butt is certainly looking to play a squad which could counter Andrew Strauss' hostile attack more effectively, and he pointed out that any decision regarding picking up the players for the second match would depend on inputs from the team management, particularly from coach Waqar Younis.

"I think the input of coaches, mainly from head coach Waqar Younis, will be very important. It is only after the team meeting on Thursday, we will be in a position to say something," Butt said. (ANI)

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Hughes eyeing Oz Test return through Hampshire stint

Published>Thu, Aug 05 10 01:22 PM

Sydney, Aug 5(ANI): Australian opening batsman Phillip Hughes is hoping that his stint with Hampshire will help him regain a place in the Test team ahead of the tour of India and the Ashes.

After a successful domestic season, Hughes was almost certain to be included for the tour of England to face Pakistan, but he was ruled out for three months after dislocating his shoulder during a boxing training session.

The 21-year-old will join Hampshire this month, and will be available for a match against Lancashire on 31 August.

"I had surgery on my left shoulder about three months ago and the rehab has been fantastic and the shoulder feels good," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Hughes, as saying.

"It has been a frustrating little period for me, watching my mates play in England, but everything is on track now to getting back in the centre and playing some good, hard, cricket," he added.

Hughes said that he will not be using boxing training any more, and denied that the injury would change his technique.

"I have always done boxing training and I love it. Maybe I will continue it again one day, but just not yet," Hughes said.

"I will continue to bat how I have always batted. I have tinkered with a few things, but I don't want to change my natural game," he added.

Hughes burst on to the international scene with two hundreds in his second Test, against South Africa in March last year, but was dropped after two Tests of the subsequent Ashes series in England due to his inability to cope with England's pace attack. (ANI)

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Indian sides told to turn pro or face the boot

Thu, Aug 05 10 01:18 PM

Indian League (IL) soccer clubs face expulsion from local and regional competitions unless they comply with Asian Football Confederation (AFC) rules.

The AFC wants to restrict the Asian Champions League to professional teams from next year while IL officials are also seeking to follow the same route with its 14 clubs.

On Thursday, the region's governing body said IL clubs must meet the requisite standards and that Asian officials would conduct inspections before a Dec. 31 deadline.

"AFC will inform them about their shortcomings in (a) workshop on Nov. 2," All Indian Football Federation general secretary Alberto Colaco told the AFC website (the-afc.com).

"They will review and inspect the clubs again after the deadline. The clubs who don't meet the criteria will not be allowed to play in the 2012 edition of the I-League."

In addition to ordering clubs to conform to the rules regarding participation, the AFC also asked them to ensure IL players were not part of state league teams.

Source: Published>

Irish cancer-survivor on epic 7,000-mile journey round the world in gyrocopter

Published>Thu, Aug 05 10 01:08 PM

Kuala Lumpur, Aug 5(ANI): Irishman Norman Surplus, who survived bowel cancer in 2003, is on an ambitious adventure of attempting to circumnavigate the globe in a gyrocopter.

As part of his 7,000-mile journey round the world, he has reached Malaysia - the 15th country on the way of his epic journey.

The 47-year-old had been earlier stalled in Thailand for 13 weeks after high winds forced him to ditch the gyrocopter into a lake.

Norman set off on the adventure from Ireland on March 22. Since then he has flown over the plains of Europe, the coasts of the Mediterranean, the deserts of the Middle East and the jungles of South-East Asia.

He will continue his journey to the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan and Russia before crossing the Bering Sea into North America.

Surplus' expedition is aimed at increasing awareness about bowel cancer, and to inspire and encourage patients to stay positive throughout their ordeal.

He is also trying to raise 5,000 pounds for a charity organisation, Bowel Cancer UK.

He also claims said there is an environmental slant to his feat, as he hopes to raise awareness about autogyros as fuel-efficient vehicles.

"An autogyro uses one-third of the fuel a helicopter needs. And they are used in many applications such as crop dusting and police and border patrols," The Star quoted Surplus, as saying. (ANI)

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Kleybanova stuns tentative Jankovic in San Diego

Published>Thu, Aug 05 10 12:58 PM

Russia's Alisa Kleybanova overcame a sluggish start to upset top seeded Serb Jelena Jankovic 7-5 6-2 in the second round of the San Diego Classic on Wednesday.

The powerful Kleybanova fell into a 0-4 hole in the first set before recovering to take down world number two Jankovic, who lacked mobility and accuracy against her taller opponent.

Jankovic injured her left ankle at a tournament in Slovenia two weeks ago and admitted that she had yet to return to full fitness.

"I had some fear moving because I was afraid I would twist it again," Jankovic said. "I'm not confident where I have to move side to side and play an intense match."

Since starting the year by winning her first WTA title in Kuala Lumpur, the 21-year-old Kleybanova has struggled with injuries and form and this tournament marks only the third time this season that the Russian has reached a quarter-final.

"She's always a great runner and (hitting) a winner against someone else isn't always a winner against her," Kleybanova said after improving her record to 3-2 against Jankovic.

"But if I'm playing my best, my ball is fast enough to make winners against her. She was actually moving pretty well today."

Kleybanova was joined in the last eight by second seeded Samantha Stosur of Australia, who recorded a 6-4 6-4 win over American teenager Melanie Oudin.

SEEDS ADVANCE

Two other seeds also advanced as number four Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland thrashed former world number one Dinara Safina 6-1 6-3 and seventh seed Shahar Peer of Israel overcame Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan 7-5 6-4.

Stosur used a her high-hopping kick serve and big forehand to subdue Oudin, who had the crowd on her side but could not get near her opponent's serve.

The Australian was able to attack Oudin's weak second serve and shortened rallies by frequently charging the net and knocking volleys.

""She runs a lot of balls down and gets a lot back so if you can get give her less time, you have a better chance of winning the points," Stosur said.

The consistent Radwanska skipped her way past Safina, who littered the court with unforced errors.

Three-times grand slam finalist Safina had won just her second match in four months on Tuesday but against Radwanska, the Russian was often wild off the ground.

"I was more consistent and she was making some easy mistakes," said Radwanska, who had lost her previous two meetings against Safina. "The courts are not playing very fast so I was able to mix it up."

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India 282/4 at lunch

Thu, Aug 05 10 12:52 PM

Colombo, Aug 5 (PTI) India were 282 for four in their first innings at lunch on the third day in reply to Sri Lanka''s 425 all out in the third and final cricket Test here today. VVS Laxman and Suresh Raina were at the crease at the lunch break on 42 and 39 respectively. Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 1st Innings: 425 all out India 1st Innings: 282 for four in 64 overs (Virender Sehwag 109, Lasith Malinga 2/72).

Source: Published>