Hamilton hopes secret new helmet will help him to win at Monaco

Published>Wed, May 12 10 05:57 PM

London, May 12 (ANI): Former Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton is hoping that a new helmet design will help him to head off his rivals.

Hamilton has been synonymous with a yellow helmet as sported by hero Ayrton Senna during the three-time champion's illustrious career.

For the previous three races around the principality, specialist jewellers Steinmetz have provided the McLaren drivers with diamond-encrusted helmets.

This year, though, it sounds like Hamilton has something a little different as he is refusing to give the game away.

He said: "I'll be wearing a specially-painted helmet for the occasion.

"When you see it you'll know why I'll be hoping for it to swing the odds in my favour," The Sun quoted him, as saying.amilton is now gearing up for the Monaco Grand Prix.

He said: "I love the Monaco circuit. It's the greatest track in Formula One and my victory there in 2008 is still probably my best win and one of the greatest moments in my career. It was an ncredible day." (ANI)

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Ferrari needs ' four or five' podiums to challenge for F One title: Alonso

Published>Wed, May 12 10 05:51 PM

London, May 12 (ANI): Racing champ Fernando Alonso has said Ferrari must crack down on chaos and score "four or five" podiums on the trot if he is to challenge for the world championship.

The Sun quoted the double world champ, 28, as saying: "So far we have had two engine problems, one gearbox problem, one jumped start, some chaotic races. But still we are only three points behind the leader, so we are happy."

"It's still very early in the championship, but better to be in the first three or four positions than eighth or ninth. From now we need four or five podiums in a row. We cannot have one podium and then another three races with mistakes if we are to win the championship," he added.

Alonso said: "We were a super Ferrari team over that weekend with no mistakes at all." (ANI)

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BCCI rejects Dhoni's view, vows change

Published>Wed, May 12 10 05:37 PM

The Cricket Board (BCCI) today said it is awaiting a report from the team management on India's debacle in the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies before taking "corrective measures".

BCCI spokesman Rajiv Shukla said Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men, who could not make the semifinals following their defeat to Sri Lanka last night, put up a below-par show in the Caribbeans resulting in their ouster from the tournament.

"The team did not perform as per the Board's expectation. The overall performance was not that impressive," Shukla said.

"Once we receive the team management's report corrective measures will ensure that something like this does not happen in the future," Shukla said.

India yesterday crashed out of the mega-event in the West Indies after losing their third Super Eight match to Sri Lanka by five wickets.

India looked jaded in the tournament and Dhoni said IPL post-match parties did take a toll on the players' body.

Shukla, however, dismissed the suggestion that IPL fatigue led to the team's flop show there.

"The international calendar is always very hectic. There are back-to-back matches, back-to-back tournaments. Now also two-three tournaments are lined-up. So we really cannot say that (fatigue is the main reason)," Shukla said.

"Apart from that we have enlarged our players' bank. So when any player feel fatigue, BCCI has already told them to take leave and take the selectors into confidence. Then there will be the replacements. I don't think that's a vital reason," he added.

"I am not aware of what Dhoni has said, have not seen his statement as yet. So I cannot comment on that," Shukla said.

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Sohail Tanvir will not be considered for England tour

Published>Wed, May 12 10 05:21 PM

Islamabad, May 12 (ANI): Pakistani pacer Sohail Tanvir will not be considered for selection for the forthcoming England tour as the PCB medical commission prescribed him another four-month rehabilitation programme to regain fitness for the coming domestic season.

The England tour starts from the first week of July and before that the team has to play in the Asian Cup in Sri Lanka in June.

The three injured players-Sohail, Naveed Yasin and Wahab Riaz appeared before the commission consisting to get their fitness assessed.

Sohail underwent different tests in Lahore on Tuesday, The News reports.

"He has shown great improvement but since he underwent knee surgery in Australia, he needed proper time to regain fitness. He has been prescribed a complete rehabilitation programme that would help him regain fitness required at an international level," a source in the PCB said.

Meanwhile, Wahab Riaz has been declared fit to bowl.

"Wahab has recovered from elbow problem is has already started bowling in the nets. He has regained fitness and has been given green signal."

Batsman Naveed Yasin has been asked not to throw a ball during the next six weeks. (ANI)

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Sean Foley likely to be Tiger's new swing coach

Published>Wed, May 12 10 05:11 PM

London, May 12 (ANI): Sean Foley is being touted as the favourite to be Tiger Woods' new swing coach, after long-time coach Hank Haney parted ways with the star a few days ago.

Tiger had a stellar career under Haney's guidance winning six Major titles, but in recent times his performance has left much to be desired with his ranking slipping to 171 on the PGA Tour.

"It is in both of our best interests for me to step aside as Tiger's coach, I believe we will all see Tiger play once again like we all know he can," the Daily Express quoted Haney as having said.

Meanwhile, Foley has indicated his keenness to fill Haney's shoes and restore Woods back to his peak but noted that there was no vacancy, the paper reports.

Canadian Foley, coaches Justin Rose near Woods' Florida home and spent time with him at last week's Players Championship during a practice round with two of his other clients, Sean O'Hair and Hunter Mahan. (ANI)

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Aussies go the other way, pick specialists

Published>Tue, May 11 10 09:11 AM

Bridgetown, May 11 -- The International Cricket Council will one day win an award of some kind for rating and ranking systems it has devised. The danger is, it might be a comedy award. When Australia arrived in the West Indies for the World T20 they were unseeded and ranked a lowly ninth in the world. Ever since the first ball was bowled, they have been the team to beat. Michael Clarke, their skipper, made an extraordinary observation in the middle of the tournament. "I have always believed that it is bowlers who win you matches in this form of the game," said Clarke. In its limited existence, T20 cricket has been thought of as the ultimate batsman's game. Teams like India have used that approach, playing just three frontline bowlers in some cases; packing the eleven instead with batsmen, who can bowl a bit. Australia have chosen to swing it the other way, always having at least four specialist bowlers in hand. The pace battery of Shaun Tait, Dirk Nannes and Mitchell Johnson, backed up by Ryan Harris, has been a permanent fixture. The other crucial decision Australia took was to pick rookie leg spinner, Steven Smith, who is an attacking bowler, ahead of the more experienced and conservative offie, Nathan Hauritz. While Hauritz would be the safer bet, Smith was more likely to pick up wickets. Add to this the presence of a genuine all-rounder in Shane Watson, a wicketkeeper who can comfortably bat at No. 3 or 4 in Brad Haddin, and you get an Australian eleven that has the skills and services that 14 or 15 players from other teams would provide.

That he might still go on to hold the trophy aloft is an illustration of the Australian way- where the team is all-important, and the individual only significant for his part in its march to victory.

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Honduras lack full arsenal for World Cup says coach

Published Tue, May 11 10 09:07 AM

Honduras would enter the Worlds Cup finals in South Africa down on firepower after a costly injury and lack of playing time by their strikers, coach Reinaldo Rueda said after he named their final 23-man squad on Monday.

Striker Carlo Costly had already been ruled out after he broke his foot playing for his Romanian club Vaslui last week, while David Suazo and Carlos Pavon, key strikers in qualifying, had not been playing regularly recently.

Suazo was coming back from injury and played as a substitute for Genoa at the weekend against AC Milan in Serie A, while Pavon's Real Espana side have been knocked out in the Honduran championship.

"We've all been shocked by Costly's situation," Rueda told a news conference. "He was the only (Honduran) international forward playing and scoring goals.

"We don't have the arsenal we believe we have," said Rueda, who opted for Georgie Welcome over league top scorer Jerry Bengtson in place of Costly.

Midfielder Danilo Turcios, who injured his left knee during the second leg of the Honduran Clausura final on Saturday, was included after his injury was not as serious as first thought.

"In the case of Danilo Turcios we have a positive diagnosis from the medical team. He will be given therapy for two weeks and will be fit for the World Cup," Rueda said.

Honduras have been drawn in Group H with Chile, Spain and Switzerland for the tournament that runs from June 11-July 11.

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