India to try and continue its good run at home

Tue, Nov 30 10 01:22 PM

Abhishek Hore Jaipur, Nov 30 (PTI) Young Virat Kohli will be the cynosure of all eyes as a new-look India seek to continue the team''s dominating run at home in the current calendar when they take on New Zealand in the second cricket one-dayer here tomorrow. In the absence of the creme de la creme of Indian cricket, the dashing right-hander from Delhi gave enough indication of why he is the one to look for in future with a match-winning century in the opening match in Guwahati. With regular stars such as skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh being rested for the first two one-dayers, Kohli stole the limelight with a fine hundred that paved the way for India''s 40-run win in the series opener. The young Kohli, going through a dream run having scored two back-to-back tons in Ranji Trophy apart from his second successive ODI century, would be keen to bat the way he has been doing of late at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium tomorrow. India have a good record at this venue winning six out of 10 matches, the last being a humdinger against South Africa in February when the hosts won by one run. India have lost just one match -- against South Africa on February 27 -- in the two series it has played at home in 2010. India won the series against the Proteas 2-1 and pipped Australia 1-0 in the rain-hit series in October. Going into the second one-dayer against the Kiwis, what would also keep the momentum in India''s favour, is that both Daniel Vettori and Brendon McCullum are still doubtful starters for tomorrow''s match. The New Zealand skipper is suffering from a sore back, after shouldering the bulk of bowling responsibilities in the three-match Test series, and Mclluum is also down with a similar condition. Runs from Yuvraj Singh''s blade in the first match were also a welcome sight for the Indian camp. The southpaw, who was recently demoted to contract B by the BCCI, was not at his flamboyant best but still managed to score 42 valuable runs, often employing the sweep against the slow bowlers to good effect. Stand-in captain Gautam Gambhir, coming on the back of a decent Test series, looked solid as long as he was there at the crease in the first match. And, with this being the last home series before the upcoming World Cup, the left-hander would be keen to spend as much time in the middle as possible. More PTI AH AT MRM

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Barcelona tear dismal Real Madrid apart

Published>Tue, Nov 30 10 12:38 PM

Madrid, Nov 30 (DPA) Barcelona cruised to the top of the Spanish Liga in sumptous style by thrashing historic rivals Real Madrid 5-0 in a delighted Camp Nou.

David Villa scored twice Monday for the Catalans, who are now two points above second-placed Real.

Barca's other goals were put away by Xavi, Pedro and super-sub Jeffren. Real had Spain defender Sergio Ramos sent off at the end.

It was the biggest thrashing suffered by Real in Barcelona since 1994 and is their first defeat under new coach Jose Mourinho. Barcahave beaten the whites in all five Clasicos since Pep Guardiola was appointed coach in 2008.

Guardiola maintained his habitual humility, saying that 'it was not an easy match,' that he had 'not expected' such a clear result - and that 'Real Madrid are an impressive team.'

He added that 'only time will tell just how good this team (Barcelona) really is. Tonight we played very well indeed.'

Two-goal hero Villa said: 'This is a very important triumph. We wanted to get above them (in the table) and we have achieved that. One cannot ask for more than this.

'We were the better team,' Villa added, 'and we enjoyed playing to our style. Madrid looked uncomfortable because we overran them in midfield.'

The Spain striker finished by saying: 'We are now two points above them. We have to continue working, we are only in November. We have an advantage, but we have to carry on winning.'

Real coach Mourinho, for his part, said: 'One team played at their maximum level and the other team played badly. This is a defeat, but not a humiliation.

'Last week we had one point more than them and now we have two points less. I have always said that Barca is the finished product and that we still have a long way to go.'

Mourinho finished, saying: 'We have to show character now. When you win titles you can cry for joy but when you concede five (goals) you have to leave with the desire to train, play again and win.'

Mourinho's tactic of playing with an advanced defence dramatically back-fired on him, as time and again Xavi and Andres Iniesta played through-balls for Villa, Pedro and Lionel Messi to run onto.

Indeed, the result would have been even more embarrassing for the Portuguese coach had it not been for Messi uncharacteristically wasting several clear chances.

Real midfielder Xabi Alonso, meanwhile, said: 'They were better than us in everything. We cannot be pleased with this performance and result. But there are many matches left and nothing has finished.'

Barca dominated from start to finish, enjoying almost 70 per cent possession. After just six minutes, Messi hit Iker Casillas' far post with a clever curling shot.

The capacity crowd did not have to wait long for the first goal. In the 10th minute Iniesta exquisitely played Xavi through. The veteran playmaker scuffed his first shot but then calmly chipped Casillas to make it 1-0.

Eight minutes later, with the Camp Nou on fire, Villa took a pass from Xavi down the left and skipped past Sergio Ramos. His centre was fumbled by Casillas, allowing Pedro to make it 2-0 from close range.

It was men against boys from then on, with Mourinho's young team looking hopelessly out of its depth. The white cause was not helped by Gonzalo Higuain's missing out due to a back injury. This left Cristiano Ronaldo alone in attack and the Portuguese striker looked nervous and overawed by the occasion.

Barca started the second half as they had started the first - with speed, precision and penetration. Villa scored two similar goals within the space of three minutes by finishing calmly after after being played through by Messi on both occasions.

For once, Messi was the provider instead of the finisher.

The elegant hosts then eased up, as if not wanted to humiliate Real. But in injury time Jeffren made it 5-0 by turning in a centre from fellow substitute Bojan.

The fifth goal caused Ramos to lose his discipline and he was sent off for an awful, needless foul on Messi.

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Former England ace Butt to make Hong Kong debut

Tue, Nov 30 10 12:26 PM

Former Manchester United and England midfielder Nicky Butt will pull on a red shirt once more on Tuesday night -- this time for South China in Hong Kong.

The 35-year-old said he would decide "within the next couple of days" whether to stay on into the new year and help South China in their AFC Cup campaign.

"This is what I was looking for -- something new and exciting," said Butt, who retired when he left Newcastle United at the end of May.

"I have played 18 seasons in the Premiership and having done that, I wanted a new challenge," he told the South China Morning Post.

South China's chairman Steven Lo Kit-sing said he was thrilled to have Butt turn out, and that he hoped the former international bring the crowds to his club.

"He has come and we hope he will be with us for a long time," he told reporters.

"It's not a gamble. We will be playing three games at home (in the AFC Cup) next year and if we draw a capacity crowd of 40,000 at the Hong Kong Stadium we can expect to break even.

"An average ticket for a game is HK$60 ($7.726) and, if we have a full house, we should get ticket revenue of around HK$2

million per game, which is enough to cover his costs.

"I don't know why other clubs don't follow suit and get players who can hopefully take them into the big leagues."

Butt and South China face TSW Pegasus in the Hong Kong First Division on Tuesday night. ($1 = 7.766 Hong Kong Dollars) (Writing by Ossian Shine in Singapore, Editing by Peter Rutherford. To comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Curator promises "traditional Adelaide Oval pitch" for second Ashes Test

Published>Tue, Nov 30 10 12:08 PM

Sydney, Nov 30(ANI): Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough has promised a "traditional pitch" for the second Ashes Test between Australia and England starting on Friday.

"Like all curators, I want to make sure I produce a good pitch for the players and for the cricket fans, and that we can get a result here," Fox Sports quoted Hough, as saying.

"It will be a traditional Adelaide Oval pitch," he added.

Hough also predicts that it would be another run-fest for the first three days, before wear and tear produce an unpredictable pitch on the last two days.

"My aim is to have a bit in it on day one for the quicks and then it should settle down for the batsmen on days two and three," Hough said.

"By days four and five, we should see some of the natural characteristics of the pitch come through, which will probably see it crack and open up for the spinners," he added.

The second Test will be the first at the redeveloped Adelaide Oval, with a new members grandstand. (ANI)

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Tendulkar is today''s Bradman, says Lara

Tue, Nov 30 10 11:52 AM

Dubai, Nov 30 (PTI) Saluting the longevity of Sachin Tendulkar, West Indies great Brian Lara has described the Indian batting legend as the ''Don Bradman'' of modern era but refused to the compare the icons of different eras. Lara, himself a legendary left-handed batsman from the Caribbean, said what astonishes him the most about Tendulkar is his longevity. "I don''t think there is any race. Both are great players. Tendulkar has shown the world what he is capable of and his longevity in the game is something to be really appreciated," Lara said. "The time he will spend in the game, records are going to tumble. The fact that someone can be there from the age of 16 and still at the age of 37 perform brilliantly is something that I cherish more than anything else," he said. The West Indies player is of the opinion that Australian great Don Bradman, who ended his career with an incredible Test average of 99.96, and Tendulkar should not be compared as they played and flourished in different eras. "He is our period''s Don Bradman. Forget the difference in averages with Bradman but whoever I have spoken to who have seen very old players in action, they believe that he [Bradman] would not have averaged 99 in today''s cricket. "So I believe that Sachin is our period''s Bradman," Lara, who visited Dubai for a jewelry brand endorsement, told Gulf News. Lara said he has just got back into cricket by playing three games in a Twenty20 tournament in Zimbabwe. He also denied reports that he is becoming Zimbabwean coach but said he will be helping them in the batting department. He said he is fanatical about golf these days and spend time on the course. "I love the game and have been working hard to bring my handicap down to five. I would love to get it a bit more lower. I spent a lot of time today at the Ernie Els Golf Course," he said.

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Deepinder Hooda wants sports university in Haryana

Published>Tue, Nov 30 10 11:38 AM

Chandigarh, Nov 30 (IANS) Buoyed by the success of Haryana's medal-winning sportspersons in the recent Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, parliamentarian Deepender Singh Hooda now wants the central government to sanction a sports university for the state.

Hooda, who represents Rohtak and is the son of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, said in a statement here that the university would be helpful in making the future of sportspersons brighter.

Hooda said he would place the demand in parliament and also before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The Haryana chief minister has already announced the setting up of sports academies in various districts.

Hooda Jr said the state government had created a favourable atmosphere for sports. He added that no talented player in the state would have to make any compromise in pursuing sports due to his economic condition.

'Haryana players have again brought glory to the state and the country by exhibiting their sterling performance in the recently concluded Asian Games, after the Commonwealth Games,' he said.

In the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, Haryana players claimed 37 out of the 101 medals won by India. Out of the 38 gold medals won, 21 came from Haryana players.

Several players from Haryana have made it big in events like boxing, wrestling, discus throw, athletics, shooting, badminton, kabaddi and others.

In the Asian Games at Guangzhou, Haryana players bagged five gold medals and 10 others.

Their success has brought them the moolah as well.

Haryana players winning gold, silver and bronze medals in the Asian Games will be given cash rewards of Rs.25 lakh, Rs.15 lakh and Rs.10 lakh each respectively.

Commonwealth Games medal winners were given a cash reward of Rs.15 lakh, Rs.10 lakh and Rs.700,000 each for gold, silver and bronze medals respectively. They also got cars ranging from Rs.350,000 to Rs.800,000, mobile phones and up to 101 kg of desi ghee.

Haryana has over 350 sports stadiums in villages, blocks and towns.

Bhiwani district has emerged as a prominent nursery in boxing, producing boxers of international fame like Vijender Singh, who won a bronze medal in Beijing Olympics and gold medal in the Asian Games, Dinesh Kumar and Akhil Kumar.

The small town of Shahbad, 60 km from here, has produced nearly 40 international women hockey players in a short span of 10 years.

The Haryana government has plans to set up a wrestling academy at Rohtak and a kabaddi academy at Jind.

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Miandad game to be batting consultant of Pak cricket team

Tue, Nov 30 10 11:22 AM

Karachi, Nov 30 (PTI) Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad today said he cannot take up the job of a full-time batting coach with the national cricket team but is ready to work as a batting consultant. Miandad, who returned from China after witnessing the cricket tournament as cricket ambassador of the Pakistan government, said he was always ready to help the team. "I have never refused in the past to do anything that can prove beneficial to Pakistan team. The same is the situation now if the board wants me to work as batting consultant I am available for this assignment," Miandad said. The former captain who is director-general of cricket in the Pakistan Board done the coach duty thrice in the past, the last time being in 2003-2004. "At the moment due to my other commitments I am not in a position to work in any fulltime capacity with the team but I am there to help the players as batting consultant," Miandad said. He said that in the past also he had worked for a short time with the players in the national camp. "This time also I will do my best to help them out and fine-tune the batsmen keeping in mind the conditions they will most likely encounter in the tour to New Zealand," he said. Miandad felt that there was plenty of batting experience and talent in the national team but it just needed to work in the right direction and more consistently. "I think I can help them out with my experience and I know where the fine tuning is required," he said. Miandad said that keeping in mind that the World Cup was few months away it was necessary for the batsmen to start hitting form consistently. The former skipper made it clear he had no intention of interfering in the domain of the chief coach or management and would focus on his work as batting consultant. He also lauded the organisation of the first cricket event in the Asian Games. "I remain confident China will soon come up as a strong cricketing nation because the interest in the sport is there and one could see that everyone in China was happy to see their team playing for the first time in such a major cricket event." He said with time and more technical and coaching expertise, Chinese players would improve and they had the backing of their government to go far ahead.

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