'Back to best' Lee fires ODI comeback hopes

Published>Sat, Oct 30 10 12:22 PM

Sydney, Oct 30(ANI): Australian fast bowler Brett Lee put in an impressive domestic performance for New South Wales to suggest that a national one-day recall could be on the cards.

Lee, continuing his comeback after a six-month lay-off with an elbow injury, took 2-43 from nine overs to guide the Blues to a six-wicket win over Queensland Bulls on Friday.

The 33-year-old moved freely and bowled with genuine pace and grabbed the wickets of Lee Carseldine, who played-on, and Craig Philipson who was caught behind, News.com.au reports.

Lee has not played any ODI for Australia since October last year.

The Australian's career has been plagued by fitness problems, ranging from a side strain and elbow surgery to a broken thumb and a forearm injury.

Earlier, chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch has said that Lee needs more cricket after a six-month layoff with an elbow injury.

Hilditch's comments come after Lee was not included in the national squad for next month's three-match series against Sri Lanka.

"It's not something he's particularly happy with, he thinks he's ready to go. But we still feel after a very long period off with injury, and then to come back on pretty limited preparation to what is really three one-day internationals in six days, I think is just a bit too much at this stage," Hilditch said.

The chairman of selectors however said that Lee remained "very much" in contention for the World Cup on the subcontinent in February.

"He's making really good progress and seems to be back bowling really well. We're hoping he'll be fully fit and roaring to go for the World Cup," Hilditch said. (ANI)

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Oz players want cricket calendar changed for T20 Big Bash involvement

Published>Sat, Oct 30 10 12:08 PM

Sydney, Oct 30(ANI): The Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) has informed Cricket Australia that leading players want the cricket calendar for the month of January revamped in order to join the Twenty20 Big Bash tournament.

At the moment, Australia's ODI players have no chance of playing in the Twenty20 tournament until 2013 as they have ODI matches against England in January 2011 and a series against India in January 2012.

"The ACA believes it is critical to the appeal of the Big Bash competition that the involvement of Australian players is maximized," Fox Sports quoted a ACA submission to CA, as saying.

"This is also based on the assumption that the total workload of these players would not increase, i.e., Big Bash games would replace international games," he added.

ACA Chief Executive Paul Marsh claimed that the only way the new Big Bash could be highly successful was for all the best players to be available.

"Cricket Australia might have to bite the bullet and take some short-term pain for some long-term gain," Marsh said.

The tournament will have eight teams playing each other twice before a finals series.

NSW and Victoria will have two teams, and the other states one each. (ANI)

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Oz IPL-style T20 teams' 30 million dollars price tag

Published>Sat, Oct 30 10 11:44 AM

Sydney, Oct 30(ANI): Australia's version of Indian Premier League-style Twenty20 franchises could be worth as much as 30 million dollars.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the franchises will be valued between 2.5 million to three million dollars a year for 10 years.

Investors would be allowed to own up to 33 per cent of a franchise in the eight-team tournament owned, controlled and managed by Cricket Australia.

"Some of the valuations that we have done recently on these interests put these teams immediately in the upper echelons of Australian sport, in terms of values of sporting teams," CA chief James Sutherland said.

"In an operational sense, we have done a huge amount of modeling going out 20 years and beyond that gives us a huge amount of confidence into how this competition is going to grow," he added.

Sutherland further said that player allocation would be based on ensuring teams had an "equal opportunity to attract talent".

The tournament will have eight teams playing each other twice before a finals series.

NSW and Victoria will have two teams, and the other states one each. (ANI)

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NBA - Heat rout Magic as "Big Three" inspire big win

Sat, Oct 30 10 10:56 AM

The much anticipated home debut of the Heat's "Big Three" exceeded expectations as Miami routed their interstate and divisional rival Orlando Magic 96-70.

The Heat dominated the second half defensively, limiting the Magic to just 25 points to turn a narrow six point halftime lead into a comfortable victory.

"The guys now can't go back on this," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "They've showed me defensively what they're capable of."

Dwyane Wade led all scorers with 26 points, including 12 in the third quarter as the Heat took command of the game.

LeBron James had 15 points and seven assists and Chris Bosh had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Forward Udonis Haslem had a double-double coming off the bench with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

"When me and Chris (Bosh) decided to join him (Wade), and even the rest of the guys, this is what we envisioned," said James.

"Is it going to be a 26-point win every night? No, it's the NBA and we know that, but the fans, they came out and the least we could do is play hard for them."

Dwight Howard scored 19 first half points for Orlando but fouled out midway through the fourth quarter without scoring in the second half to lead the Magic. The Magic starters combined for a meagre 37 points, and just seven in the second half.

"I think their defense was very good," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said.

"I think that their length and the way that they got into the passing lanes made it tough for us to get good ball movement. Passing's a major problem with our team. It really is."

Source: Published>

Sachin''s bat fetches Rs 42 lakh at glittering sports auction

Sat, Oct 30 10 10:36 AM

Mumbai, Oct 30 (PTI) Indian batting icon Sachin Tendulkar''s willow fetched the highest bid of Rs 42 lakh at a glittering sports auction here that saw personal items donated by 25 top sportspersons from the country and overseas go under the hammer. The champion batsman had scored an unbeaten 163 against New Zealand at Christchurch last year, his fourth highest one day score, with this bat. Tied at second spot was the rifle used by India''s only individual Olympic gold medallist, shooter Abhinav Bindra, when creating history at the Beijing Games two years ago and the bat of Rahul Dravid, with which he had scored a century in each innings in the Kolkata Test of 2005 against Pakistan. Both were successfully bid for Rs 20 lakh. The bat signed by all team members of the 1983 World Cup winning team and donated by former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar''s willow went under the hammer for Rs 17.5 lakh. Anil Kumble''s jersey which he wore when he equalled Jim Laker''s ten-wicket in a Test innings record against Pakistan in New Delhi in 1999, and his Test cap that he wore between 2004 and 2006 went for Rs 11.5 lakh. Among the other items auctioned off were Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer''s shoes, a bat donated by 1983 World Cup winning skipper Kapil Dev with the autographs of all the team members and sports gear donated by Indian top racquet sports exponents - Shuttler Saina Nehwal and tennis player Sania Mirza. Doners Dravid, Kumble, tennis ace Leander Paes, national football captain Bhaichung Bhutia, 1974 hockey World Cup winning skipper Ajit Pal Singh, former hockey captain Viren Rasquinha and Bindra were present at the auction last night. (MORE) PTI SSR DK PM

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Pakistan needs good batsmen: former captains

Sat, Oct 30 10 10:22 AM

Karachi, Oct 30 (PTI) Pakistan''s continuing poor form against South Africa in the ongoing series in the UAE has drawn stinging criticism from former captains who feel the team desperately needs good batsmen. South Africa swept aside Pakistan by eight wickets in the first one-day international in Abu Dhabi yesterday after outclassing Shahid Afridi''s men in the two Twenty20 matches earlier in the week. "Definitely the batting is letting the bowlers down. The batting is just not good enough and they are not putting up enough runs for the bowlers to defend," former captain Asif Iqbal said. Iqbal also felt that Afridi''s poor form was having a negative on the team''s overall performance. "I think Shahid has to pick up his performance because he has to lead by example and it is the job of the team management and coach to motivate and lift the players in these circumstances," the former captain said. Despite the return of former captain Younus Khan to the team and his scoring a half century, Pakistan were bowled out for just 203 runs. Former captain Javed Miandad felt that the team needs to show more purpose and planning. "There is no purpose in the way they are approaching the matches. The batsmen are playing without a plan and that is why they are struggling to get big scores," he said Miandad said the players just need to learn the art of staying at the wicket and putting a high value on their wicket. Another former captain Aamir Sohail said he was disappointed with the role of the team''s coaching staff. "Where is the coaching/support staff. What is their job description?" he asked. "Nowadays in modern day cricket it is clear that the role of the support staff is very important and plays a big part in any team''s success of defeat. But in our team I don''t know what is happening the players are playing without any plan at all." Batting great Zaheer Abbas said the players need to realise that they are putting the future of cricket in Pakistan at stake with their shoddy performances. "We have been playing badly since last year and and with all these controversies people are now becoming disheartened. These constant changes in the team and the controversies outside the field are also affecting the team''s ability to play good solid and sensible cricket," Zaheer said. Former leg-spinner Abdul Qadir said it was unfortunate but the national team was not moving forward because of the strange policies of the cricket board. "South Africa is a top team but on a pitch which was good for batting and conditions were ideal for us and we even won the toss, how can you justify getting out for just 203 runs. They are problems in this team," he said.

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NBA - Heat rout Magic as "Big Three" inspire big debut win

Sat, Oct 30 10 09:36 AM

The much anticipated home debut of the Heat's "Big Three" exceeded expectations as Miami routed their interstate and divisional rival Orlando Magic 96-70.

The Heat dominated the second half defensively, limiting the Magic to just 25 points to turn a narrow six point halftime lead into a comfortable victory.

Dwyane Wade led all scorers with 26 points, including 12 in the third quarter as the Heat took command of the game.

LeBron James had 15 points and seven assists and Chris Bosh had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Forward Udonis Haslem had a double-double coming off the bench with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Dwight Howard scored 19 first half points for Orlando but fouled out midway through the fourth quarter without scoring in the second half to lead the Magic. The Magic starters combined for a meager 37 points, and just seven in the second half.

Source: Published>