Shane Bond unlikely to reconcile with dad following charge

Published>Mon, Nov 15 10 02:57 PM

Auckland (New Zealand), Nov. 15 (ANI): Former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond has acknowledged his father John's support, but doubts they will reconcile.

John has revealed the cause of a bitter family feud that has seen him ostracised from his son.

John Bond said that his marriage to Shane's mother Judith ended more than five years ago amid allegations of infidelity.

The 59-year-old said he was wrongly accused of cheating on Shane's mother but the fallout from the divorce saw Shane and his sister Tracey break off contact.

In his autobiography, Looking Back, Shane said his father, who was his "hero" growing up, had let him down.

"He is no longer a part of my life, or the lives of his grandchildren," Shane wrote.

Speaking for the first time about the rift, John said that he was never given a chance to explain himself.

"Whether my wife and I split up or not, it had nothing to do with my kids. They have chosen to make it their issue. They never bothered to ask my side of the story," stuff.co.nz quoted John, as saying.

John, a truck driver now living in Blenheim, said the divorce dragged through court for over a year.

"I was accused of ripping people off, I was accused of having affairs. I heard it all through the family and I'm sick of it. Now I don't even have a photo of my son and me together. If I hadn't have been there, he couldn't have done it. Shane has done very well and I am very proud of him but that part of my life is gone," John said.

John said he spotted a special talent in Shane from age six and coached his son's teams.

He said: "I knew from the day that he picked up a cricket ball for the Black Midgets in Upper Hutt when he was six that he was something special.

John said Shane lived at home until he was 25 as he chased his cricketing dream, and was selected for the Black Caps aged 26. "That was my proudest moment. He came to ask me for advice but by that stage he didn't need me to tell him anything."

Shane had acknowledged his father's influence but also said the pair would probably never reconcile.

"It hurts when the man you grow up loving and respecting, in many respects he was my hero, lets you down. Those personal issues have driven us apart, probably forever, but I need to acknowledge the massive influence he had on my early development as a cricketer," said Shane. (ANI)

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Michael Vaughan's crude tweet about Carol Vorderman's "big new friends"

Published>Mon, Nov 15 10 02:53 PM

London, Nov 15 (ANI): Former British cricketer Michael Vaughan, who is known for his candid commentary, recently took to Twitter to comment on media personality Carol Vorderman's breasts, suggesting that she may have had surgery.

Vaughan, 36, posted his tweets after he saw Vorderman, 49, wearing a stylish Suzanne Neville black bustier dress with Swarovski stones, hosting a televised awards ceremony at London's Grosvenor Hotel.

"Just been informed that Carol vordemans Breasts are looking mighty large on TV . . . true or false," the Daily Mail quoted him as tweeting.

"She has definitely treated her self to a couple of new friends... Big friends at that ... Why not?? That's what I say? great viewing," he wrote. (ANI)

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Asian Games badminton: China clinch women's team title for ninth time

Published>Mon, Nov 15 10 02:47 PM

Guangzhou, Nov 15 (IANS) China Monday clinched the women's badminton team trophy for the ninth time at the Asian Games, sweeeping aside Thailand 3-0 in the final.

China have collected all the women's team titles but one in 1994 when the badminton powerhouse failed to clinch any title at the Asiad at Hiroshima, Japan.

World number one Wang Xin staved off a tough challenge from 15-year-old Ratchanok Intanon, winning 20-22, 21-17, 21-14, Xinhua reported.

'I was prepared but did not expect the match to be so tough, I think I was a little nervous,' said Wang, who just turned 24.

For Ratchanok, there was nothing to lose against a strong Chinese opponent.

'I'm very satisfied with my performance as I tried my best. I didn't think I could take it to three games,' said Ratchanok, who replaced Salakjit Ponsana as the first singles.

Wang Shixian extended China's lead to 2-0 by beating Nitchaon Jindapol 21-13, 21-12.

'You think I am not the nervous type, but I was really under stress in the match,' said the 20-year-old Wang.

Jiang Yanjiao made her first appearance at these Games and secured the win for China after defeating S. Taerattanachai, 21-15, 21-10.

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England bowlers skip warmup to head for Brisbane early

Published>Mon, Nov 15 10 02:37 PM

England signalled the probable makeup of their first Ashes test bowling attack on Monday with the decision to send four players to Brisbane early rather than playing a warmup match in Tasmania.

Pacemen Stuart Broad, Steve Finn and James Anderson, and offspinner Graeme Swann would leave Hobart on Wednesday, after the first day of England's four-day match against Australia A, to begin preparations for the Nov. 25 test, coach Andy Flower said.

"The conditions in Hobart are very different in Brisbane and the ones we will be facing in the first test," Flower told reporters in a wet and chilly Hobart.

"We want to give that group of bowlers a little head start in those conditions so they're going three days earlier than the rest of us."

Flower added while they had signalled their likely bowling attack for the first test there was still a possibility for the bowlers who played in Hobart to put themselves into contention not only for Brisbane but further into the series.

"(Tim) Bresnan, (Chris) Tremlett and Monty Panesar haven't had a chance in the middle yet so they should be desperate to get out there and prove themselves," Flower added.

SAME ATTACK

"Without a doubt I would say one or two of those guys will be playing test cricket in the next couple of months.

"You don't have situations where the same bowling attack plays five tests in a row.

"It's a very real opportunity for them and if they perform they could be playing in the first test."

The 24-year-old Broad, whose height should be well suited to extract bounce from the Gabba pitch, said he was pleased to be heading to Brisbane early.

"I see it as an opportunity to get used to the conditions," Broad said. "We are going to have times when we spend a lot of time in the sun and humidity and we need to make sure our bodies are right for that." Broad said he had felt the four, who had played their opening two games against Western Australia and South Australia, were gelling well as a unit prior to the test.

"We have had two fantastic warmup games as a bowling group together and we have got some really good plans together and we have communicated well," Broad said.

"We are feeling fairly confident as a bowling unit, its (now) all about mental and physical preparation for the test match.

"We all feel we have good rhythm and feel confident of taking wickets and are ready to go."

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Rajasthan Royals, BCCI to solve dispute through arbitration

Mon, Nov 15 10 02:23 PM

Mumbai, Nov 15 (PTI) Rajasthan Royals and BCCI today agreed to take the dispute over the IPL franchisee''s contract termination to an arbitrator. Rajasthan Royals moved the Bombay High Court last month after the BCCI terminated the contract with them for the IPL. However, at today''s hearing Rajasthan Royals'' lawyer Janak Dwarkadas told the court that both the parties have decided to solve the dispute through arbitration as per their contract terms. He also said that justice B N Srikrishna would be the sole arbitrator. Justice S J Vazifdar adjourned hearing till November 18. Another IPL franchisee Kings XI Punjab has also challenged termination of regulation of its contract with BCCI. Kings XI''s lawyers told the court today that his client too is seeking resolution of dispute through arbitration and the franchisee would be willing to accept arbitration before Justice Srikrishna. The court then posted the matter of Kings XI for hearing on November 18.

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Capello goes to war against England stars boozing culture

Published>Mon, Nov 15 10 02:07 PM

London, Nov.15 (ANI): England football team coach Fabio Capello has gone to war against the boozing culture that has become a habit with some of the squad's stars.

Since taking over as England boss, the Italian could be forgiven for believing that the Premier League is beset by a drinking culture, that its multi-millionaire stars are running wild off the pitch.

According to The Sun, hardly a week passes without the graphic evidence being laid out in front of him through unwanted newspaper headlines and grainy, unflattering photographs, usually snatched from an opportunist's mobile phone.

Capello recognizes a drinking culture exists in his adopted country, but on the eve of England's tough Wembley examination against France he warns that there is no hiding place for his players.

Waving his mobile phone in the air, Capello warned: "You can know everything about what happens in someone's life because of this. It can record all the time. It can take pictures. You can find everything on Facebook etc.

"This is the worst thing. Because of this people can speak about this person drinking or this person being out."

Capello shared the frustration and disappointment of his fellow Italian Roberto Mancini, the Manchester City boss, when pictures emerged of England players Joe Hart and Adam Johnson being involved in a drinking spree in Scotland.

Capello added: "I saw the pictures. Mancini said they needed to change their lifestyles. Players have to be careful.

The consequences of a drink culture, insists the England boss, can impact later in a player's career.

"If a player drinks a lot, his career will probably be shorter. This is important. The players have to understand the effect drink has on their bodies," he said.

Alcohol is banned at England get-togethers. Capello confirmed. (ANI)

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ICC tribunal hearings over Pak trio in Jan will have no link with Oct findings: Lorgat

Published>Mon, Nov 15 10 01:37 PM

Karachi, Nov 15(ANI): International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat has advised suspended Pakistan cricketers and their lawyers to not mix the hearings of the tribunal held last month and the Doha hearings scheduled in January.

Lorgat said that the presence of the ICC Code of Conduct Commission Chairman, Michael Beloff, in the hearing would have no bearing on the outcome of the appeal.

"The appeals hearing was held to see whether the provisional suspensions on the players were justified. It had no relevance to the charges against them," the Daily Times quoted Lorgat, as saying.

"In the tribunal hearing in January the tribunal will determine whether the charges brought against the players have substance or not. It will decide if the players are guilty or not of violating the ACU code of conduct," he added.

He insisted that there should be no concern from anyone, as under the commission rules, its chairman had to sit in tribunal hearings.

Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif, were suspended in September after a British tabloid alleged that they were involved in 'spot-fixing' the Lord's Test against England in August.

Earlier, the code of conduct commission had upheld the trio's suspensions after a two-day hearing in Dubai.

The innocence or guilt of the players will now be judged in the independent tribunal by Beloff, Justice Albie Sachs and Sharad Rao. (ANI)

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