Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Dravid & Co. to play in Kiwi domestic season


Wellington: New Zealand Cricket on Sunday confirmed that six Indian players would turn out in the domestic championship as warm-up to the Test series, diffusing the tension between BCCI and Kiwi players' Association over the involvement of ICL-linked players in the tournament.


The six Indians -- VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Amit Mishra, Murali Vijay, Laxmipathi Balaji and Dhawal Kulkarni -- would play in the next two rounds of the State Championship.


The Indian players have been included only in those state teams, that do not feature ICL players.


Dravid will play for the State Canterbury Wizards against the State Central Stags at Rangiora, from March 6-9.


Leg-spinner Mishra will turn out for the Stags in the same game. Laxman will appear for the State Otago Volts against the State Wellington Firebirds for whom Balaji will be turning out at Dunedin, on similar dates.


In the next round from March 13-16, Vijay and Kulkarni will play for the Stags and Firebirds respectively at Napier.


The Test series begins in Hamilton on March 18.


"No Indian players will appear for the State Auckland Aces or State Northern Knights. This avoids any potential issues over the involvement of ICL players in the games. The Aces and Knights sides already have an overseas player in their teams," the NZC statement said.

Canterbury's ICL-contracted players, Chris Harris and Shane Bond, were only contracted by Canterbury to play State Shield and T20 matches and therefore not considered for the State Championship," the statement added. The inclusion of the Indians in the state teams was agreed upon by the NZC, the New Zealand Cricket Players' Association and the six Major Associations.


However, things could have taken an ugly turn after the Board of Control for Cricket in India withdrew Sachin Tendulkar and Dinesh Karthik from an invitational Twenty20 match on Friday since it involved an Indian Cricket League player, Hamish Marshall, in the NZCPA side.


The BCCI move came as a surprise to the hosts and in a counter offensive, the NZCPA had said it would not allow players linked with the rebel league to be dropped from the state teams to facilitate the Indians.


Given the scenario the BCCI would have had no choice but to withdraw the six players from the warm-up matches since it is against any contact with those linked with the ICL, a situation which could have proved costly for the visitors.


India coach Gary Kirsten thanked NZC for accommodating the players so they could get vital match practice.


"Because of the tight schedule and no warm up match it would have been difficult for those players straight off the plane I think it sets a good example," said Kirsten.

NZC Chief Executive Justin Vaughan was happy that the NZCPA and Major Associations had been able to work out a solution. "There have been a number of issues to work through, including the involvement of ICL players, NZC's rules around overseas and qualifying players, player allocation, scheduling and travel arrangements," said Vaughan.


"This is an excellent solution that means we're able to offer the incoming Indian players appropriate preparation in first-class conditions and at the same time give our domestic sides an incredible opportunity to play alongside some of the great names in international Test cricket.


"For some of our young players especially, the chance to spend four days on the park and in the dressing room with players of the calibre of VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid is priceless," he said.


Players association executive manager Heath Mills, who was vocal against the BCCI, was also satisfied that a compromise could be worked out.


"New Zealand Cricket and the Major Associations have done well to achieve that through the use of six players in the State Championship," he said.


"Each Major Association is allowed one overseas player under our contracting environment which is something we have always supported and encouraged so this outcome fits nicely with that," said Mills.

Soruce:http://cricketnext.in.com/news/dravid--co-to-play-in-kiwi-domestic-season/38701-13-2.html

Good start laid foundation for win: Dhoni

Napier: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Tuesday lauded the opening pair of Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar for laying the foundation of the 53-run victory over New Zealand in the first one-dayer here.


Dhoni, who himself played a crucial unbeaten knock of 84 runs at the number three position, said the difference between victory and defeat on Tuesday was the 69-run opening stand between Sehwag and Tendulkar which allowed the middle-order batsmen to free their arms in the later stages of the innings.


"I think the start is important for us. Over the years we have seen if we get a decent start, we have got the firepower to capitalise on that and specially with the 20 overs of power-play it gets really very difficult for the bowlers to contain us.


"If we get a good start more often then we will get a good score which our bowlers can defend," he said after the match.


"The openers role is very important, but I think Raina's knock was fabulous. He came in at a time when he had to decide whether to go after the bowling or not. He went by his instinct, whatever he saw, he played according to the merit of the ball. I think it was a brilliant innings," he added.


Asked whether the Indians came out with a different gameplan on Tuesday after the two consecutive Twenty20 defeats at the hands of the hosts, he said, "During the toss I have said it has happened to us in the past that in the Twenty20 games we tend to go out all guns blazing and at times we fall short of the target, but our 50 overs approach has been good.


"We also committed mistakes but overall our approach has been good till now. We made a few errors in the middle but overall I am quite happy with the performance."


Dhoni, who was adjudged man-of-the-match for his tactical innings, also lauded pacer Praveen Kumar (2/28) for his exploits with the ball in his first outing on Kiwi pitches.


"He (Praveen) is one bowler who does very well in conditions where there is something for him. He can swing the ball both ways and is a street smart cricketer. He knows his limitations and that's the best part," he said.


Meanwhile, New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori blamed his bowlers for the defeat and said his side was a far better bowling unit than what they have displayed on Tuesday.


"Right from the start India outplayed us. We just couldn't get right with the ball. I was pretty disappointed with the way we bowled, we are a lot better bowling unit than what we have displayed today. We were also a bit sloppy on the field and lacked execution," Vettori said.


He praised for Raina and said the left-hander's blazing 66 off 49 deliveries took the game away from them.


"Raina's innings probably brought little bit of momentum back in the middle stages. He played exceptionally well and took the game away from us.


"Dhoni, Sehwag are quality players, if you give them a chance, they will grab it," Vettori said.


Asked if the Duckworth-Lewis method made the run chase difficult for his side, Vettori said, "No, we got our figures wrong. We were not looking forward to chasing 105 off 7. We put ourselves in the situation with the way we bowled."


"I suppose losing a couple of wickets in the beginning also didn't help us, because when you are chasing a big target, you need to get a good start," he added.

Source:http://cricketnext.in.com/news/good-start-laid-foundation-for-win-dhoni/38753-13.html

1st ODI: India thrash New Zealand by 53 runs (D/L)


NEW DELHI: India beat New Zealand by 53 runs according to the Duckworth Lewis method in the first ODI of the series at McLean Park in Napier on Tuesday. With this win, India took a 1-0 lead in the 5-match series.

Chasing a revised victory target of 216 in 28 overs, the Kiwis managed 162/9 in the game that was marred by two rain interruptions.

New Zealand lost 4 wickets in 5 balls to be reduced to 132/9 in 24.1 overs.

It was Harbhajan Singh who started the Kiwi slide when he took 3 wickets in 4 balls. Harbhajan first dismissed Martin Guptill went for the slog sweep but got the height not the distance as Gautam Gambhir took a fumbling catch. Next delivery, Neil Broom charged down the pitch, missed the straighter delivery and was stumped by Dhoni. Kyle Mills survived the hat-trick ball but edged the next delivery to first slip for Virender Sehwag to take the catch.

On the first delivery of the next over bowled by Zaheer Khan, Ian Butler edged to fine leg for Munaf Patel to take the catch.

The Kiwis lost their fifth wicket on the first ball when play resumed after the second rain interruption when Jacob Oram played a sweep and went for the run not knowing that the ball was up in the air just behind him and Mahendra Singh Dhoni ran him out.

The Kiwis lost their fourth wicket when Grant Elliott hit through the covers and went for two runs but was not fast enough to beat the throw from Virender Sehwag into the hands of Dhoni and was run out. The rain came down at that very moment.

New Zealand lost their third wicket in the form of Ross Taylor to be reduced to 81/3 in 15.5 overs.

Trying to break the shackles imposed by the Indian spinners, Taylor (31) went for a sweep shot but edged the Yusuf Pathan delivery to short fine leg for Sachin Tendulkar to take the catch. Taylor added 58 runs with Martin Guptill for the third wicket.

Praveen Kumar took two wickets to reduce New Zealand to 23/2 in 7.4 overs.

Praveen got the second breakthrough when Kiwi opener Jesse Ryder (11) hit high up in the air for Virender Sehwag to take the catch in the covers.

This was shortly after New Zealand got off to a worst start possible losing Brendon McCullum without any run on the board.

Praveen drew first blood for India in the second over when McCullum top edged to fine leg for Harbhajan Singh to take the catch.

Earlier, riding on half-centuries by Virender Sehwag, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Suresh Raina, India scored 273/4 in 38 overs.

Dhoni remained not out on 84 off 89 balls with six hits to fence, while Raina smashed 4 sixes and 5 fours in his quickfire knock of 66 that came off 39 balls.

Yusuf Pathan hit a six and 2 fours in his unbeaten knock of 20 that came off 10 balls.

The 100-run partnership between Dhoni and Raina came after India lost Yuvraj Singh and Sehwag in quick succession to be reduced to 131/3 in 22.4 overs.

India lost the third wicket when Dhoni flicked to deep mid-wicket and called Yuvraj for two who was not fast enough to beat the throw from Martin Guptill into the hands of his captain Daniel Vettori to run out the southpaw who scored 2 runs.

Sehwag smashed 77 off 56 balls before he was dismissed to reduce India to 121/2 in 18.2 overs.

Ross Taylor took a superb catch diving to his left to end Sehwag's innings and give New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori his first wicket. Sehwag hit a six and 11 fours in his belligerent knock.

Sehwag reached his 34th ODI fifty with a pull over square leg that was his eighth hit to the fence.

Ian Butler gave New Zealand the first breakthrough when he dismissed Sachin Tendulkar to put India at 69/1 in 9.4 overs.

Sachin edged a rising delivery into the hands of keeper Brendon McCullum after hitting 2 fours in his 23-ball 20.

Sehwag and Tendulkar resumed the Indian innings after the match was reduced to 38 overs per side.

According to revised playing conditions, three bowlers could bowl eight overs, and two could bowl seven. The first powerplay was of 8 overs, the bowling powerplay be of 4 overs and the batting powerplay be of 3 overs.

Rain stopped play after Sehwag and Tendulkar took India to 27/0 in 4.3 overs.

Sehwag was his usual aggressive self having raced to 23 off 19 balls with the help of 5 hits to the fence, while Tendulkar has looked more composed in his short stay at the crease and got off the mark with an on drive that fetched him three runs.

The rain interruption came after Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat first.


Soruce:http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Specials/India-in-New-Zealand/News/1st-ODI-India-draw-first-blood-at-Napier/articleshow/4215628.cms?curpg=2

Paes moves to number six, Sania slips to 88

NEW DELHI: Indian ace Leander Paes replaced his estranged partner Mahesh Bhupathi at number six position in the ATP doubles rankings, released on Monday.

Paes now has 6940 ranking points, just 15 more than seventh placed Bhupathi. Rohan Bopanna moved to 72 with 1705 points after gaining three spots.

In the singles, Somdev continued to be India's highest ranked player at 150.

In the WTA rankings, Sania Mirza slipped to 88 from 75 in singles and lost nine places in doubles to stand 72nd.

Source:http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

will retire after 2013: Isinbayeva


BEIJING: Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva wants to retire after the 2013 world championships in Moscow.


"I plan to finish there in front of my home crowd and I plan to succeed there," the world record holder from Russia said on Monday. "I will retire after 2013."

Isinbayeva, who vaulted 5.05 metres in last year's Olympics, said she could go as high as 5.30 before she quit. "My bar must be higher than 5.20... and 5.30 is possible. I will try to achieve this," she said in Beijing where she captured her second successive Olympic gold medal. "Technically there is no problem."

Last month the 26-year-old vaulted 5.00 in Donetsk, Ukraine, her 12th indoor world record and 26th in total. Chinese sportswear retailer Li Ning confirmed last week that Isinbayeva had signed a sponsorship deal with the company.

No details on the size or length of the contract were available but sources earlier said it would be worth $1.5 million annually for five years, a record amount for a track and field athlete.

Li Ning was founded by the 1984 Olympic triple gymnastics gold medallist who last August lit the cauldron at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Games.

Isinbayeva, the 2008 female athlete of the year, plans to defend her world title in Berlin in August.

Source:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/I-will-retire-after-2013-Isinbayeva/articleshow/4213609.cms

Serena tops Venus to win Billie Jean King Cup exhibition


NEW YORK: Serena Williams beat her older sister Venus 6-4, 6-3 to win the Billie Jean King Cup exhibition on Monday, marking the return of women's tennis to Madison Square Garden after a nine-year absence.

Australian Open champion Serena, who defeated 2008 French Open champion Ana Ivanovic of Serbia 6-3 in her one-set semi-final, collected $400,000 in the first women's matches at the Garden since the 2000 WTA Championships.

Venus, winner of her last two tournaments in Dubai and Acapulco, settled for $300,000. The reigning Wimbledon champion beat world number three Jelena Jankovic of Serbia 6-4 in her first match.

The Serbs got $250,000 each in the $1.2 million event. "Venus and I are so excited to be playing here," Serena said after an arduous final, during which she slipped over while chasing a baseline retrieval and later crashed onto the blue court when trying to reach a backhand volley.

"It was really good, really intense," the 27-year-old world number one said.

Venus, who leads the sisters' WTA tournament head-to-head series 10-9, said: "I tried but Serena was too good."

The first set turned on a marathon, with a tense ninth game that reached deuce nine times. Serena finally cracked her older sister's serve on her eighth break point for a 5-4 lead before serving out the set.

Before the Williams match, an emotional ceremony was held to honour women's sports pioneer and equal rights campaigner King, keynoted by former President Bill Clinton.

"There were millions of young women all across America who couldn't play sports or pursue dreams that were thought to be the province of boys," Clinton said. "That was before Billie Jean King.

"She's done a lot not only to help women pursue their tennis dreams but other dreams well beyond athletics. She has probably done more than anyone in the world to empower women and to educate men."

King said: "The seeds for this historic event were planted almost 40 years ago when nine of us, signed a $1 contract to play a tournament in Houston.

"We had such big plans for our sport. We dreamed of playing in the world's greatest arenas, like Madison Square Garden."

The exhibition was also used to spark a youth registration push called "Tennis Night in America" with 750 facilities in all 50 states holding sign-up parties for youth tennis programs built around screenings of the Billie Jean King Cup event.

Soruce:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Serena-tops-Venus-to-win-Billie-Jean-King-Cup/articleshow/4216229.cms

Liverpool look to restore title bid


LONDON: Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has identified the injury problems suffered by Fernando Torres as the main reason the club's title challenge has wilted.

The Spanish striker will be missing again when Liverpool face Sunderland on Tuesday when they hope to close the seven-point gap to Premier League leaders Manchester United.

An ankle injury picked up in the Champions League victory at Real Madrid last week is the latest knock for Torres who has managed just 15 league matches for Liverpool this season.

"The worst thing has been the injuries to Torres," Benitez said on Monday. "He is our striker. He scored a lot of goals for us last season and this season could have been totally different with him.

"(His ankle) is improving but it's still too early for him," added Benitez, who is hopeful that the Spaniard will return for the Champions League second leg against Real next week.

Liverpool have managed only 10 points from their last seven league games and have watched champions United pull away at the top on the back of 10 consecutive victories.

"We must keep going in the title race, to try to win each game as it comes along," Benitez said. "There are still lots of points to play for."

Chelsea and Liverpool are in action hoping to cut the gap on Premier League leaders Manchester United with Arsenal facing bottom side West Brom aiming to boost their flagging Champions League hopes.

Source:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Liverpool_look_to_restore_title_bid/eplarticleshow/4218302.cms