Injury scare for Tendulkar, hit on helmet during practice

CAPE TOWN: The Indian cricket team suffered an injury scare as Sachin Tendulkar escaped unhurt after he was hit on the helmet by a rising delivery from fast bowler Umesh Yadav during pre-series training at coach Gary Kirsten's academy.

A delivery from the uncapped right-arm paceman caught Tendulkar by surprise as it hit the left side of his helmet as he ducked, expecting the ball to rear up higher and pass overhead during the morning training session at Claremont Cricket Club last evening.

Tendulkar, who was among the second batch of players who reached, took the very audible whack with great calmness, even as colleagues in both his and the other nets swiftly turned heads out of concern for his well-being.

The 37-year-old veteran of 174 Tests simply stooped a little, removed the helmet and inspected it, while Yadav rushed in but heaved a sigh of relief after laying his hands on Tendulkar's head which apparently did not have any signs of taking the blow.

Tendulkar then carried on serenely as if nothing had happened and shortly afterwards S Sreesanth sent him a shortish ball that barely climbed knee height, which caused some amusement.

He was batting on a strip which was with some up-and-down sort of bounce apparently prepared by Kirsten as part of preparations for the three-match Tests series against South Africa starting at Centurion on December 16.

"You can't control these sorts of situations in a net environment. It even happens in India; guys get hit on the glove and so on. You just have to hope nothing too serious occurs," said Kirsten afterwards of Tendulkar's minor scare.

"Interestingly enough the one net here is pretty flat and low and the other is going around a bit. The guys wanted to use the one that was more (spicy). I'm pretty excited about that; we'll use the one that's going around a bit again tomorrow," he said.

Kirsten wanted to simulate the South African pitch conditions as best as possible as India are not having any warm-up game before the Test series.

The Indian squad will reach Centurion on Monday.


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Tendulkar turns down record liquor endorsement offer

MUMBAI: True to his promise and character, Indian cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar has refused a mega offer to endorse a liquor brand. Experts in the commercial endorsement business say it would have been the highest-ever deal for an Indian sportsperson had it been clinched.

A spokesperson from World Sports Group (WSG) -- who look after his endorsements -- confirmed the offer but said they cannot give details of the deal offered. "He did get an offer but we are not in a position to name the company or give details of the offer," said the WSG spokesperson.

TOI has learnt that the offer, a one-year contract, was much higher than what Mahendra Singh Dhoni recently signed for a three-year deal with Vijay Mallya's UB Group, which is worth Rs 26 crores. Sources say Tendulkar was offered as much as Rs 20 crore annually.

A former player who is also close to Tendulkar said the maestro is living up to the promise he made to his father Ramesh Tendulkar many years ago. "His father had advised him against endorsing alcohol-related or tobacco products soon after he had made the Indian Test team.

Anyways, money can never lure Tendulkar and this offer is a classic example of how he believes in his principles and values his cricket," said the player who once led India to a famous win under Tendulkar's guidance.

The general belief is that the UB Group approached Tendulkar with the deal before signing Dhoni but Arun Pandey, who heads Rhiti Sports Management and is a close business associate of the Indian captain, said they have no idea about it. "We have no knowledge about who approached Tendulkar or the offer that was made to him," said Pandey.

Besides Dhoni, the UB Group has also signed up four other players for promotion of their brand McDowells.

Read more: Tendulkar turns down record liquor endorsement offer - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/top-stories/Tendulkar-turns-down-record-liquor-endorsement-offer/articleshow/7080733.cms#ixzz17m5HpKvo

India clean sweep ODI series against Kiwis

CHENNAI: India rode on a clinical show by their bowlers and Parthiv Patel's unbeaten half century as they crushed a hapless New Zealand by eight wickets in the fifth and final one-dayer to complete a 5-0 series whitewash on Friday.


Stand-in captain Gautam Gambhir lost the toss but that proved to be a blessing in disguise as Indian bowlers came up with a disciplined effort to bundle out New Zealand for 103 in just 27 overs, the lowest total for the Kiwis against India in ODIs.

Chasing a meagre 104 for a win, India stuttered initially with Gautam Gambhir (0) and Virat Kohli (2) falling early but Prathiv (56 not out) and Yuvraj Singh (42 not out) kept their cool to take the home side past the target with 28.5 overs to spare at the M A Chidambaram Stadium.

Patel struck the winning runs - a four - as India reached 107 for two in 21.1 overs to rout New Zealand and wrap up a remarkable performance by a young side without senior players Sachin Tendulkar, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh.

It was India's second instance of a 5-0 series whitewash against any country, having achieved the feat against England in 2008-09.

This also turned out to be best ever victory against New Zealand by India in one dayers. India won this match with 173 balls to spare with eight wickets in hand, its earlier best against the Kiwis was 160 balls to spare with seven wickets to spare.

New Zealand ended their tour of India on a humiliating note. They had lost the three-match Test series 0-1 before the five ODIs. The loss in the fifth ODI was also their 11 on the trot after beating India by 200 runs at Dambulla on August 10.

India, however, made a wobbly start in their run chase with Gambhir, who had scored back-to-back centuries to end as series top-scorer, dismissed cheaply in the third ball for a duck.

Gambhir edged a Nathan McCullum delivery to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum when he went for a cut shot and three overs later Kohli was caught at the slip by Ross Taylor off captain Daniel Vettori to leave India at 10 for two in the fourth over.

The target was too small to bother India but Yuvraj and Parthiv played sensibly as they settled down without taking much risk. But once they settled down, the Indian duo was not troubled by the New Zealand bowlers.

Parthiv hit Kyle Mills for three fours in the ninth over before hoisting Vettori for a six. Yuvraj also joined the party with a four and a six off Nathan McCullum in the same over. He also hoisted Grant Elliot for another six towards the close of run chase.

Parthiv's unbeaten 56 came from 70 balls from which he hit six fours and a six while Yuvraj's 46-ball unbeaten 42 was studded with six fours and two sixes.

Earlier, India put up an impressive bowling display to bundle out a struggling New Zealand for a paltry 103.

Off-spinner R Ashim continued to impress with figures of three for 24 while Ashish (2/34), Yuvraj Singh (2/5) and Yusuf Pathan (2/11) scalped two wickets each to destroy the Kiwis.

New Zealand's 103 is the lowest by a team against India and also the lowest in the ground after Zimbabwe's 139 against Australia on October 30, 1987.

New Zealand's struggle can be gauged from the fact that only four of their batsmen - Brendon McCullum (14), Jamie How (23), Scott Styris (24) and James Franklin (17 not out) - could manage double figures.

Opting to bat after winning the toss, New Zealand never got going as they lost wickets at regulare intervals to finally surrender at 103 in 27 overs.

Praveen Kumar (1/20) started New Zealand's downfall when he had opener Martin Guptill caught behind by Parthiv Patel in the fourth ball with the visitors yet to open their account.

McCullum, who looked susceptible during his stay at the crease, followed suit when he was caught plumb in front of the wicket by Ashish Nehra after the batsmen went for a wild cross-batted shot. His 10-ball stay at the wicket was studded with three hits to the fence.

It was double delight for Nehra in his next over when he achieved his 150th career wicket in the form of Ross Taylor.

Making good use of the extra bounce, Nehra sent a short delivery to Taylor (9), who went for a pull only to get a top-edge, which was gleefully accepted by Patel to leave New Zealand reeling at 28 for three.

How and Styris then tried to ressurect the Kiwi innings with an 43-run fourth wicket stand before three quick wickets in a span of four runs did the visitors in.

Yuvraj, Ashwin and Pathan then combined well with the ball to destroy the Kiwis.

Yuvraj started it all, first castling How's timbers and then getting Elliot lbw for a duck in consecutive overs.

In between Ashwin removed dangerman Styris and then Pathan too chipped in with the wickets of Daniel Vettori (9) and Nathan MCCullum in consecutive overs to reduce New Zealand to 92 for seven in 24 overs.

If not for Franklin's gutsy 24-ball 17, New Zealand would have struggled to cross the 100-run mark.

Ashwin signed it off for India in the fourth and sixth delivery of the 27th over, claiming the last two Kiwi batsmen - Kyle Mills and Tim Southee.

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