Stewart backs Colly to play till he is 40

Published>Sun, Jul 25 10 03:37 PM

London, July 25 (ANI): Former England captain Alec Stewart believes Paul Collingwood is showing all the signs he can play international cricket until he is 40 after a memorable year so far.

Collingwood was the inspiration behind England lifting the World Twenty20 title in the Caribbean back in May and even hit the winning runs against Australia in the final.

The Durham all-rounder has since gone onto to become England's all-time leading one-day run scorer with 4843, overtaking Stewart - following an innings of 48 in the second of five matches against the Aussies last month.

According to the News of The World, at 34, Collingwood - who made his international one-day debut in 2001 and Test bow two years later - is the oldest player across all three England squads.

Stewart - a holder of 133 Test and 170 one-day caps - himself retired from international cricket just after turning 40 and is adamant Collingwood can more than do the same.

"I used to say age is just a number, if you are good enough, you are young enough and you are old enough and while Paul is playing like he is, he could play for another six years if he wanted," said Stewart - who was captain when Collingwood made his one-day debut against Pakistan nine years ago.

"He is 34 but he is as fit as anyone. He might only want to play for two more years, but the way he is playing at the moment - you never want to give that away," he added. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Bopanna-Vliegen in final of Atlanta Tennis Championship

Sun, Jul 25 10 03:27 PM

New Delhi, July 25 (PTI) Rohan Bopanna is one step away from winning his second ATP doubles title of the season after making the final of the Atlanta Tennis Championships in USA, along with partner Kristof Vliegen. The Indo-Belgian pair scored a 7-5 7-5 win over Stephen Huss of Australia and Brazil''s Andre Sa in the semifinals of the USD 531,000 hard court event. Bopanna and Vliegen will next take on Americans Scott Lipsky and Rajeev Ram, who beat compatriots John Isner and James Blake 7-6 (5) 7-6 (5). Bopanna had won the first title of the season at Johannesburg along with Pakistan''s Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi in February. They had also ended runners-up at France and Morocco apart from winning a Challenger tournament in Jersey and making the finals of the Italy event.

Source: Published>

Delhi Police to procure armoured cars for Games security

Published>Sun, Jul 25 10 03:17 PM

Bracing to ensure trouble-free Commonwealth Games amid fears of terror attacks, Delhi Police will procure armoured cars, becoming the first force in the country to use such vehicles for policing duties.

"We will be getting three armoured cars ahead of the Commonwealth Games. Delhi will be the first city in the country to use such vehicles in policing," Delhi Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal said in an interview.

"These vehicles will be moving around the city and (sometimes) stationed at venues during the Games," he said.

Each carrying 30 commandos, armoured vehicles would be deployed to tackle eventualities like terror strikes. One batch of such commandos is ready while two batches are undergoing training and will be in action ahead of the Games.

No police force in the country is presently using bullet-proof armoured cars for normal policing duties though paramilitary forces like BSF and CRPF have a number of such vehicles.

Ensuring security for the mega sporting event in which prominent sportspersons from 71 countries will be taking part is a major challenge for Dadwal, who is completing three years in office on Monday.

"There will be elaborate security arrangements for the

Games. We have got Quick Reaction Teams, commandos and

snippers to secure the event as well as the city," he said

adding the city police is also forming a special commando

force which will keep a hawk-eye vigil over the city.

When asked about Punjab Police alert that Sikh militants may target the Games, the Commissioner said he was "not aware" of any threat to the event. "No. I have no information (about Punjab Police alert)," Dadwal said.

For the Games, Delhi Police personnel are also being specially trained in frisking, search operations and screening baggage through X-Ray machines. Special training on enhancing communication skills and behavioural patterns are also being imparted.

Apart from around 80,000 Delhi Police personnel, over 17,500 paramilitary personnel, 3,000 specialised commandos and 100 anti-sabotage check teams will be deployed across the city.

Asked whether he envisages any coordination problems with paramilitary forces which are also being drawn for security measures, he answered in the negative and said all the forces will work under his command and control.

"All the paramilitary forces provided to me will work under my command except the NSG. We will be working in synergy. There is no ambiguity. It is very clear that I am in command and control," Dadwal said.

To a question whether the delay in completion of Games-related projects was compromising security preparedness, he said all venues will be ready on time and that he did not envisage any problem in this regard.

"We know the stadia and surrounding areas. We know the city very well. So securing them or other areas will not be a problem. As a preventive measure we have asked schools and colleges to remain closed during opening and closing ceremonies," Dadwal said.

Assuring an incident-free Games, the Commissioner said the rate of crime in the capital was the lowest in the last 40 years.

"We are taking substantive series of step to improve policing for both people and Games. Our aim is not only to secure Games but to ensure safety of people. If we get help from people then we can do wonder," he said.

The city police has also requested business bodies like FICCI, CII, ASSOCHAM and ITPO to defer plans to organise any major conferences, fairs or exhibitions during the Games other than those directly related to the event.

"A fleet of PCR vehicles -- 750 vans and 120 motorcycles will augment security arrangements. More than 600 PCR vans and 115 motorcycles are fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS)," Dadwal said.

Police is also procuring anti-sabotage check equipment like mine sweeper, fibroscope, busters and explosive detectors specially for the Games, he said.

Source: Web Search

Lankans have to find new bowling partnerships: Sangakkara

Sun, Jul 25 10 02:51 PM

T V Sriram Colombo, July 25 (PTI) With the individual brilliance of just-retired Muttiah Muralitharan and Lasith Malinga missing, Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara today said his team will have to build bowling partnerships to trouble the Indians in the second cricket Test starting here tomorrow. "Absence of Murali and Malinga has opened up a chance for other bowlers. We have to now look for a partnership effort in bowling," Sangakkara said on the eve of the second Test at Sinhalese Sports Club Ground. "If they bowl to a plan, they can be effective. They should bowl in the right areas. Let us see how it works out. We have to change our balance in the bowling attack a bit but the attitude remains the same," he said. Now that Muralitharan has walked into the Test sunset, Sangakkara is pinning hopes on carrom ball bowler Ajantha Mendis who has returned to the squad for the second Test after missing out the first at Galle. Mendis, who tormented India in their last tour of Sri Lanka with 26 wickets in three Tests in 2008, did well for Sri Lanka Board President''s XI in the warm-up game with a six for 67 haul. "Mendis bowled well in the warm-up game and we are hoping that he will do well in the second Test. We also have Rangana Herath and Suraj Randiv in the wings," the home team captain said. "In the pace department, Angelo Mathews is bowling with good seam. He can bowl well if there is something in the wicket," he said. Asked how Sri Lanka keep on producing good bowlers with different action, like a Mendis or a Malinga, Sangakkara said, "One of reasons is that we have a lot of rubber and tennis-ball cricket and bowlers can come out with new things." "Many of us have undergone formalised training based on English techniques," he said. Sangakkara said the SSC will be a typical Sri Lankan pitch with lots of runs in it. "SSC is a good wicket as it used to be earlier. I am sure the curator has done a good job, it has a lot of run earlier," he said.

Source: Published>

Swann transforms from clinically depressed county journeyman to England great

Published>Sun, Jul 25 10 02:37 PM

London, July 25 (ANI): Ace England off-spinner Graham Swann has revealed that there was a time that he was so depressed that he thought of quitting cricket, and adds, that he is equally surprised to be now considered an England great.

Swann says that he needs to maintain his form in the Test series against Pakistan and do well on the Ashes tour this winter to be able to overhaul South African pacer Dale Steyn as the world's top-ranked bowler.

Yet five years ago, according to the News of The World, Swann's career was going nowhere.

Rejected by England coach Duncan Fletcher after a terrible tour of South Africa in 2000, and unwanted by his county Northants, Swann was on the brink of quitting the game.

The 31-year-old said: "Looking back at the end of my time with Northants, I was probably clinically depressed. It got to a point where the club didn't want me to play for them and I didn't want to play for the club."

"I was in an atmosphere where if you didn't conform to this strict regime, then you were seen as a real black sheep. I was made to feel everything I did was evil. My confidence was never dented, I just felt trapped. I was told by the coach (Keppler Wessels) 'you're only playing because we've got no one else. It would be better for you and the club if you left'.

Swann said: "From an ego point of view it's not ideal and, if you let it, it could lead to a spiteful situation."

But since moving to Nottinghamshire and breaking back into the England team everything has changed.

Swann is now officially rated England's most valuable player, averaging 30 with bat and ball after 20 Test appearances.

"The move to Notts has enabled me to take my career to another level," he said.

"It's been a whirlwind couple of years. I've been on a high for two years - long may it continue. I'd completely written off playing for England a few years back. Whatever happens from now I'll certainly finish my career a lot happier," said Swann, who has a cheery persona, allied to a fierce determination to win.

"This England team turns up for every series knowing they can beat any other side in the world. That wasn't the case in the past," Swann said. (ANI)

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Kerala thrash HP but still trail leaders Assam

Sun, Jul 25 10 02:21 PM

Kolkata, July 24 -- Three footballers from Sikkim, who came to the city to take part in the Santosh Trophy, are down with swine flu. They were admitted to the Beliaghata Infectious Diseases Hospital on Saturday. The Indian Football Association is yet to hit the panic button, though six new cases, including the three footballers, were reported on Saturday. That took the toll to 42 in Bengal since the first case was reported on July 9. Sikkim's Sagar Rai, Bikash Jairy and Sanjay Chhetri arrived here on July 19. The three, along with teammate and East Bengal midfielder Sanju Pradhan, were admitted to a private hospital on Thursday with fever. Pradhan did not test positive for the H1N1 virus and will be released on Monday, the team manager said. Rai, Jairy and Chhetri are quarantined. In Saturday's matches, Assam and Kerala both registered their second consecutive wins in Cluster VII. After drubbing Himachal Pradesh 10-0 in the opening match, Assam blanked Uttarakhand 7-0. Kerala had defeated Uttarakhand 3-1 in their first match and so their drubbing of Himachal Pradesh - which included a hattrick by Viva Kerala midfielder Javed OK - could not take them to the top of their cluster, where Assam sit pretty with a goal-difference of +17. Just a draw against Kerala in the final cluster match on Monday will help Assam secure a pre-quarter berth. In Cluster VIII, Railways drubbed Orissa 4-0 for their second successive win and emerge group toppers. Mizoram recorded their first win when they pumped in 10 goals past Bihar. At Mohun Bagan, egged on by IM Vijayan from the stands, Kerala showed the urgency to score against minnows Himachal Pradesh. They knew the goal difference could determine the pre-quarter finalist from the cluster. It was a super show by Himachal Pradesh goalkeeper Simrat Singh Sahota that restricted the number of goals to 10.

New Delhi: Indian Air Force beat Rohini FC 9-0 in an A division match of the DLF-ONGC-SAIL Delhi Soccer Association Annual Clubs League Championship. Also, Veteran Club defeated Moonlight Club 3-0 while Ashoka Club won 3-2 over Buddhist Blue Stars.

Source: Published>

Yousuf, Younus unlikely to join team in England: sources

Sun, Jul 25 10 01:51 PM

Karachi, July 25 (PTI) Chances of former captains Mohd Yousuf and Younus Khan joining Pakistan side for the Test series against England have faded as the team management are keen to persist with youngsters after the victory over Australia in the second Test at Leeds. Reliable sources said the Test win at Leeds had made the stronger the stand of the team management not to tinker with the winning squad although there was pressure on the Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ijaz Butt to recall the two senior players. Captain Salman Butt also gave an indication of his feeling to continue with the young squad when he said the rare victory over Australia was the beginning of a new era for Pakistan cricket. Sources in the PCB said there had been no move to prepare travel documents for either Yousuf or Younus and process their visa applications though the first Test against England begins from July 29. "This is an indication that it is unlikely these two will be sent to England to join the team immediately," the source stated. Both Yousuf and Younus were banned for indefinite periods in March by the Board after an inquiry into the troubled tour to Australia early in the year. Yousuf preferred to retire from international cricket but Younus appealed and had the ban removed. Yousuf, who captained Pakistan in Australia, said last week that he had spoken to the PCB chairman and was ready to come out of retirement to play for Pakistan. Media reports also suggested both the former captains had started training to prepare for a call up. "But now the tide has turned because captain Salman Butt, coach Waqar Younis, manager Yawar Saeed and other coaching staff were more in favour of persisting with the young players and didn''t want Yousuf or Younus back," the source told PTI. "The team management believes that it is better to groom the new players instead of recalling the former captains. The feeling is that they are past their best for Pakistan," the source added. Chief selector Mohsin Khan said while he personally felt Younus and Yousuf still have three to four years of cricket left in them but they would only be selected after confirming their fitness and form. "The same rule applies on them as for other players and we must keep in mind Yousuf has not played cricket for a while now," he said. Meanwhile, Pakistan tour selectors are finding themselves in a dilemma on the future of Shoaib Malik as a Test player. He didn''t make any significant contribution in the second Test and sources said the team management might request a replacement of the former captain.

Source: Published>