Pressure on SA as Champions Trophy begins

JOHANNESBURG, Sept 20: The pressure will be on South Africa and off Sri Lanka when they clash at Centurion Park on Tuesday in the opening 2009 ICC Champions Trophy fixture.
South Africa need the cup to confirm what the world rankings have been saying for some time - that they are a class act when it comes to One-Day International cricket.

But playing hosts in a sporting event is a double-edged sword with victories galvanising a nation and defeats having the opposite effect, especially in a country like South Africa where expectations are invariably sky high. The least expected of the Graeme Smith-led Proteas is that they qualify for the October 5 final and many South Africans would dream that bitter rivals Australia provide the opposition and are conquered. While Sri Lanka are good enough to win the 14-day mini-World Cup, it is defending champions Australia, South Africa and India who are most commonly mentioned as potential winners of the two-million-dollar top prize.

Somdev helps India qualify for Davis Cup World Group

NEW DELHI, Sept 20: India’s Somdev Devvarman defeated Rik De Voest 4-6, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-2, 6-4 in a near five-hour slugfest in the first reverse singles on Sunday to seal India’s place in the elite Davis Cup World Group for the first time since 1998.

India have taken an unassailable 3-1 lead in the tie. Junior Australian Open champion Yuki Bhambri will make his Davis Cup debut in the dead singles rubber next.

Somdev lost first two sets 3-6, 6-7 (3) in an almost two hours long battle, but he resurrected himself in the third set which he won 7-6 (5) in a tie-breaker.

Somdev, Bopanna win day one for India

Somdev Devvarman and Rohan Bopanna

JOHANNESBURG: Twin victories by Somdev Devvarman and Rohan Bopanna put India in a commanding position in the Davis Cup World Group play-off tie against South Africa on Friday.

Somdev put India ahead by overwhelming Izak Van der Merwe 7-6 (5), 6-3, 6-4 in the first singles and then Bopanna staged a stunning comeback to upset Rik De Voest 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 in the second rubber at Ellis park indoor arena.

A win in Saturday's doubles rubber will clear India's entry into the World Group after 11 years.

Bopanna refused to throw in towel even after receiving a ruthless drubbing in the first set and turned the tables on his higher ranked opponent, who is placed 99 rungs above him at 189 in the ATP chart.

Bopanna was struggling to get on the board initially but raised his game by several notches as the match progressed.

Like Somdev, Bopanna too took a while to get into rhythm. He never looked back after breaking Rik, South Africa's number one player in the tie, in the fifth game of the second set.

After making it one set all, Bopanna played an amazing game as he served extremely well and his booming single handed backhands and forehands were too hot to handle.

Earlier, coming into the tie after his breakthrough performance at the US Open, the 133rd ranked Somdev played with maturity and took two hours and 10 minutes to dispatch his opponent.

Somdev faced just one breakpoint and mostly played from the baseline. Merwe displayed an excellent serve and volley game but unforced errors dented his chances.

Somdev took little time to settle as he struggled with his first serve and sprayed a lot of forehands long.

Merwe, ranked 289 in the ATP chart, on the other hand was confident in the start, played some big strokes and won brilliant points at net.

No player got the break opportunity until eighth game of the opening set. Merwe set up the breakpoint with an overhead volley but Somdev came back well with strong serve to save.

India got a break point in the next game but Somdev was unlucky as he fired a backhand, eyeing a cross court winner, but the ball landed on the net and jumped out of the court.

Without seeing a break, the first set stretched to the tie- breaker, which the Indian won to go 1-0 up.

Merwe, who looked better player initially because of his exploits at the net, backed by a solid serve, succumbed to unforced errors in the tie-breaker.

The South Afircan hit a forehand to net to give Somdev a 3-1 lead, which he later reduced to 4-6 and saved a set point too but his double fault at 5-6 sealed the set for India.

Getting back his rhythm, Somdev curbed his unforced errors in the second set and broke Merwe in the sixth game to be in advantageous position.

A furious backhand, after four deuce points, earned Somdev his second breakpoint and with equally forceful double handed backhand he got that break for a 4-2 lead.

Merwe started to wilt under pressure and handed two set points in the eighth game, thanks to some unforced errors. He saved both but could not stop Somdev from serving out the set.

Already shaken in confidence, Merwe was facing two breakpoints in the very first game of the third set but managed to save both.

However, pressure got the better of Merwe and he was broken at love in the fifth game at love when he double faulted. From there it was just a cakewalk for Somdev.

Bopanna and Bhupathi will take on Jeff Coetzee and Wesley Moodie in the doubles rubber on Saturday.

TOI

Jaffer to lead Mumbai in Irani clash

Wasim Jaffer

Mumbai, Sep 19 (PTI) Opener Wasim Jaffer has been appointed as captain of the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team for the 2009-2010 season and would lead the 38-time national champions in their season-opening Irani Cup clash against Rest of India at Nagpur from October 1-5.

Wiry pacer Ajit Agarkar would be Jaffer's deputy in the match, a media release from the Mumbai Cricket Association's joint secretary and senior selection committee convenor Hemant Waingankar said today.

The team includes uncapped 17-year-old left arm medium pacer Saurabh Netravalkar.

The team: Wasim Jaffer (c), Ajit Agarkar (vc), Sahil Kukreja, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Prashant Naik, Vinayak Samant (wk), Ramesh Powar, Iqbal Abdulla, Dhawal Kulkarni, Rahil Shaikh, Murtuza Hussain, Sushant Marathe, Saurabh Netravalkar and Onkar Khanvilkar. Coach: Pravin Amre

PTI

Absence of ‘quota places’ prompts NRAI not to host World Cup

New Delhi, Sept 18: The National Rifle Association Of India (NRAI) on Friday clarified that its decision to pull out as host of the rifle and pistol World Cup in March was solely due to the absence of qualification spots in the event for the 2012 London Olympics.

NRAI secretary-general Baljeet Sethi said that a new International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) ruling has made it mandatory that all quota places would be available in events only 24 months before the opening ceremony of the London Games. “Earlier quota places were available in specific tournaments including World Cups, two years before the Olympics. But since the new IOC rule has been implemented now, the World Cup in March that we were to host becomes inconsequential,” Sethi said.

Flintoff to coach cricket team

ondon, Sep 18: England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff will be coaching the United Arab Emirates national team during the period that he recovers from knee surgery. “A partnership has been agreed with Dubai Sports City to use their gym and facilities as a base for his rehabilitation. In return he will be carrying out some coaching for the UAE national team over the next six months,” Andrew Chandler, Flintoff’s one agent said.

India continue their slide at 13th at Nomura Cup

India continue their slide at 13th at Nomura Cup


New Delhi, Sep 17 (PTI) Indian boys continued their slide down the leaderboard as they were placed 13th after the third round of the Nomura Cup at the par 72 NamSeoul Country Club in South Korea today.

The Indian team totalled 18-over in the third round with Rashid Khan (76), Abhishek Jha (78) and Pawan Kumar's (80) scores being considered for the team total.

The fourth member of the team, Karan Vasudeva, carded 81 today.

South Korea, with a total of nine-under, inched towards winning the championship, holding a commanding 13-shot lead over the team from Chinese Taipei, who are at four-over for the tournament.

The Japanese team, with another good showing in the third round, continued at third place

Somdev holds key against South Africa in Davis Cup

Somdev holds key against South Africa in Davis Cup

Johannesburg, Sep 17 (PTI) Somdev Devvarman yet again holds the key as the Indian Davis Cup team, sans Leander Paes, take on hosts South Africa from tomorrow to stake claim of a berth in the World Group after 11 years.

The duo of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi have always given India an edge in the doubles rubber but the last minute pullout of Paes has made things slightly tricky for India.

Now Rohan Bopanna is likely to do double duty. He has to pair with Bhupathi against Jeff Coetzee and Wesley Moodie, a pair capable of giving India a run for their money.

Then Bopanna, who is coming back from a knee injury, will have to play two singles as well which means he will be in action on all three days of the tie

Sachin's bat to sport Adidas logo, MRF bows out

STAFF WRITER 16:8 HRS IST
New Delhi, Sep 17 (PTI) MRF will make way for the Adidas logo on Sachin Tendulkar's bat, with the batting great ending over a decade-long association with the tyre maker to endorse the global sportswear company.

"Sachin almost had a 10-year-long relationship with MRF and now he is associated with Adidas," an official of the World Sports Group (WSG), which manages Tendulkar's endorsements, told PTI.

The move follows the recent entry of Adidas into cricket equipment segment. The company had utilised the services of the 'Master Blaster' in design and development of products.

Tendulkar has also been associated with Adidas for over a decade now, as brand ambassador in apparels and sports gear.

In the recently concluded tri series in Sri Lanka, Tendulkar started using Adidas cricket equipment and the most conspicuous was the bat, which had the Adidas logo instead of the familiar 'MRF - Genius'.

Indians eyeing honours in Asian GP

Kolkata

Kolkata, Sep 16 (PTI) A 12-member Indian contingent, comprising of Olympians Jayanta Talukdar and Dola Banerjee, would be eyeing some prominent performances when fourth Asian Grand Prix tournament gets underway at the SAI Eastern Centre here tomorrow.

Having bagged three golds, one silver and two bronze medals from World Cup stages, Indians are high on confidence as they appear overwhelming favourites against the archers from Bangladesh, Iran, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Singapore, Hong Kong, Bhutan and Nepal.

As the Asian GP field not so strong, it will also give the hosts a chance to erase their bitter memories of World Championship held in Ulsan from September 1-9.

Indians had returned empty-handed from the South Korea meet.

"Our boys, especially the trio of (Jayanta) Talukdar, Rahul Banerjee and Mangal Singh Champia had some good chances.

But the going was tough there and we failed.

PTI

After T20 cricket, it's PowerPlay golf in India

Mumbai,

Mumbai, Sep 16 (PTI) After Twenty20 cricket, it's time for PowerPlay golf, a shortened version of the game played over nine holes, with two flags on the green and a duration of two hours, to attract the attention of sports fans.

The eighth edition of the Signature Club Golf Championship, which involves 43 clubs spread over 30 cities in the country from September 26 to December 14, is to be played under the two-year-old PowerPlay format.

The founder of PowerPlay Golf, Peter McEvoy, told reporters today that the format has been introduced following a 5 per cent drop in audience for the traditional four-day golf.

"It's a shorter form, like T20 cricket, five-a-side football and seven-a-side rugby. I think Indian fans would like its faster pace. While normal golf is a reward for patience, in this format you have to make things happen," he said.

Pti

Malik ready to open the innings but wants long run

Karachi

Karachi, Sep 16 (PTI) Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik is ready to take on the role of an opener in the forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy but wants an extended run from the team management.

"I have no problems opening the innings. I have done it before. But I don't want to be tried in this position for just two or three matches. I want to be given a proper chance for 10 to 12 matches," Malik told the media last night.

The Pakistani selectors have picked just one specialist opener, Imran Nazir, in their 15-member squad for the Champions Trophy and are preparing to try out wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and Malik in the makeshift role.

Malik insisted that opening the innings was a specialist's job and anyone doing it should have a peace of mind that he would be given a proper run to prove himself.

PTI

Gautam Gambhir and Sehwag lead race for Castrol Indian Cricketer of the Year 2008

Castrol Indian Cricketer of the Year Award

Mumbai, September 16th 2009: Injuries may have forced them to take a temporary break from playing, but Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir continue to stand at the forefront of Indian cricket. The two lead the points tally for the Castrol Indian Cricketer of the Year 2008, followed by their Captain - Mahendra Singh Dhoni and bowlers Harbhajan Singh and Ishant Sharma.

Player Test Pts ODI Pts Total
Virender Sehwag 36 23 59
Gautam Gambhir 26 26 52
MS Dhoni 19 29 48
Harbhajan Singh 26 15 41
Ishant Sharma 17 20 37

The Castrol Indian Cricketer of the Year Award is decided on a two stage system. In the first stage, the points scored determines the top five contender’s shortlist. In the second stage, all Indian cricketers who have played at least one test match or five ODIs, are invited to vote for their choice of player for the Castrol Indian Cricketer of the Year. This enables a qualitative element as well.

With votes still coming in from Indian cricketers across the country, the race is too close to call and the ultimate winner will only be known at the Castrol Awards for Cricketing Excellence ceremony to be held in Mumbai on 17th September ‘09.

The Castrol Awards for Cricketing Excellence have honored the present, past and future of Indian cricket since their inception in 1997-98. Previous years' winners of the Castrol Indian Cricketer of the Year have been Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar.

The Award ceremony will also include The Castrol Indian Junior Cricketer of the Year Award (Ravindra Jadeja) and The Castrol Lifetime Achievement Award (G R Vishwanath). Four new awards, instituted from 2008, will also be given away and these include The Castrol Indian Test Cricketer of the Year, The Castrol Indian ODI Cricketer of the Year, The Castrol Indian Bowler of the Year and The Castrol Indian Batsman of the Year. The Awards are for the calendar year 2008.

Gautam Gambhir and Sehwag lead race for Castrol Indian Cricketer of the Year 2008

Castrol Indian Cricketer of the Year Award

Mumbai, September 16th 2009: Injuries may have forced them to take a temporary break from playing, but Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir continue to stand at the forefront of Indian cricket. The two lead the points tally for the Castrol Indian Cricketer of the Year 2008, followed by their Captain - Mahendra Singh Dhoni and bowlers Harbhajan Singh and Ishant Sharma.

Player Test Pts ODI Pts Total
Virender Sehwag 36 23 59
Gautam Gambhir 26 26 52
MS Dhoni 19 29 48
Harbhajan Singh 26 15 41
Ishant Sharma 17 20 37

The Castrol Indian Cricketer of the Year Award is decided on a two stage system. In the first stage, the points scored determines the top five contender’s shortlist. In the second stage, all Indian cricketers who have played at least one test match or five ODIs, are invited to vote for their choice of player for the Castrol Indian Cricketer of the Year. This enables a qualitative element as well.

With votes still coming in from Indian cricketers across the country, the race is too close to call and the ultimate winner will only be known at the Castrol Awards for Cricketing Excellence ceremony to be held in Mumbai on 17th September ‘09.

The Castrol Awards for Cricketing Excellence have honored the present, past and future of Indian cricket since their inception in 1997-98. Previous years' winners of the Castrol Indian Cricketer of the Year have been Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar.

The Award ceremony will also include The Castrol Indian Junior Cricketer of the Year Award (Ravindra Jadeja) and The Castrol Lifetime Achievement Award (G R Vishwanath). Four new awards, instituted from 2008, will also be given away and these include The Castrol Indian Test Cricketer of the Year, The Castrol Indian ODI Cricketer of the Year, The Castrol Indian Bowler of the Year and The Castrol Indian Batsman of the Year. The Awards are for the calendar year 2008.

Del Potro stuns Federer to win US Open

Juan Martin del Potro

NEW YORK: Argentine sixth seed Juan Martin del Potro upset five-time defending champion Roger Federer 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 to win the US Open men's final on Monday.

The shocker made Del Potro the first South American to win the US Open men's crown since countryman Guillermo Vilas in 1977, winning in his first Grand Slam final appearance to deny Swiss world number one Federer a 16th career Slam crown.

Del Potro dethroned five-time defending champion Federer ending an era to win in his first Grand Slam final.

"I don't have words to explain how I feel," a tearful Del Potro said, noting that a day after the day he called the greatest of his life for making the final, he felt "Much better".

Del Potro, who turns 21 next week, snapped Federer's 41-match unbeaten streak on the Flushing Meadows hardcourts to win 1.85 million dollars and destroyed the Swiss superstar's aura of US Open invincibility.

"I would like to congratulate Juan Martin on an unbelievable tournament. I had a great one but he was the best," Federer said.

"I would have never believed I could win five in a row here. It has been an amazing run for me."

Firing consistent winners, the 1.98m Argentine giant kept the pressure upon the player many hail as the greatest in tennis history, one he had never beaten in six prior attempts, and won after four hours and six minutes.

Del Potro led Federer by two sets in the French Open semi-finals before the Swiss rallied for a dramatic five-set victory.

But there was no such escape this time.

Federer was pushed into a fifth set for only the third time since the start of his championship run, the other times being against Andre Agassi in the 2004 quarter-finals and in last year's round of 16 against Igor Andreev.

Del Potro zipped a forehand crosscourt winner past Federer for a break and a 2-0 lead in the final set and denied the top seed on a break-point chance in the third game on his way to a 5-2 lead.

Federer served to stay in the match but found himself down two match points, both squandered by Del Potro with a wide forehand and a netted backhand.

But Federer's 11th double fault gave Del Potro another chance and he made the most of it, winning when Federer sent a forehand over the baseline.

Del Potro realized he had won, fell to the ground on his back and began to cry.

TOI

India tame the Lankan Lions

Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar hit his 44th one-day century to lead India to a 46-run win over Sri Lanka in the final of the limited-overs tri-series here on Monday.

Tendulkar, the world's leading Test and one-day scorer, made 138 off 133 balls as India piled up 319-5 after batting first in the day-night match at the Premadasa stadium.

Click here for the Match in Pics

Sri Lanka made a gallant chase after the stiff target, buoyed by a blistering opening stand of 64 in 7.5 overs by Tillakaratne Dilshan and Sanath Jayasuriya, before they were all out for 273.

Dilshan hit 42 off 29 balls when his dismissal in the eighth over, bowled by Harbhajan Singh, triggered a dramatic collapse in which five wickets fell for the addition of 67 runs.

Off-spinner Harbhajan finished with 5-56 to signal India's morale-boosting win ahead of the eight-nation Champions Trophy which opens in South Africa on September 22.

Skipper Kumar Sangakkara and Thilina Kandamby revived Sri Lanka with a 51-run stand for the sixth wicket, when India earned a lucky break to make it 182-6.

Sangakkara, who made 33, saw his bat fly out of his hands and break the stumps as he attempted to pull a full toss from Rudra Pratap Singh.

Kandamby and Chamara Kapugedara scared the Indians by adding 70 for the seventh wicket, but both batsmen fell in the space of 12 runs, derailing the Sri Lankans.

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who did his team a favour by winning the toss on a wicket that slowed down, made 56 from 62 balls during a second-wicket stand of 110 with Tendulkar.

Yuvraj Singh remained unbeaten on a quickfire 56 off 41 balls as India plundered 85 runs in the last 10 overs.

The 36-year-old Tendulkar battled oppressive heat and humidity to bat for 46 overs despite developing leg cramps in the later part of his innings, necessitating the help of a runner.

He hit 10 boundaries and a six before being leg-before to Ajantha Mendis after smashing a six and two boundaries earlier in the over.

It was Tendulkar's 86th international century -- 42 in Tests and 44 in one-dayers -- to complement his world record 12,773 Test and 16,895 one-day runs in a brilliant 20-year career.

Tendulkar put on 95 for the first wicket with fellow veteran Rahul Dravid, who contributed 39 after being asked to open the batting in place of the axed Dinesh Karthik.

circbuzz.com

Paes-Dlouhy topple Bhupathi-Knowles

New York, Sep 14: India’s Leander Paes claimed his 10th Grand Slam title when he and Czech Republic’s Lukas Dlouhy made a remarkable comeback to beat Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles of Bahamas at the US Open men]s doubles final here.

Paes and Dlouhy won the thrilling final 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in a match that stretched to two hours. The 36-year-old Paes, who lost in the finals of the mixed doubles while pertnering Zimbabwean Cara Black, overcame a sore shoulder to ensure that he goes home with at lease one title. “I’m a little numb at the moment because it’s just been a mammoth effort over the past two weeks,” Paes said. Paes and Dlouhy were beaten by Bryan twins Bob and Mike in the title clash here in 2008, but they avenged their defeat in the semi-finals this year. This was Paes’ sixth men’s doubles title and 10th overall in 19 final appearances. Paes also got the upper hand on Bhupathi, his longtime former partner. Facing off for a 19th time since splitting up in 2000, Paes edged ahead 10-9. The two were meting each other in a Grand Slam final for the first time.

India clinch Compaq Cup

COLOMBO, Sep 14: A majestic century from Sachin Tendulkar helped India to lift tri-series title defeating Sri Lanka by 46 runs in Colombo, on Monday. Chasing 320 run to win Sri Lanka, who made a flying start, finally bowled out for 273 in 46.4 over.

After Saturday’s debacle against the hosts, India needed a strong showing with the bat, and Tendulkar led the way with a masterly innings of 138 that saw India post a mammoth 319 for five in their 50 overs after electing to bat.

The veteran batsman, who stroked 10 boundaries and a six in his 133-ball knock, gave India a solid start in a 95-run opening stand with Rahul Dravid (39). He made sure India consolidated on the good start with a 110-run partnership off 115 deliveries for the second wicket with Mahendra Singh Dhoni who hit 56 from 62 deliveries. Yuvraj Singh provided the finishing touches to the innings with a blazing 56 from 41 deliveries, leaving Sri Lanka to chase a record total to win the tournament. Interestingly, India sent in their two most experienced batsmen to open the innings, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar with the obvious intent of giving them more overs to settle and play big knocks.

Strauss wants England to win without KP, Fred

Embattled England captain Andrew Strauss

Embattled England captain Andrew Strauss has challenged his players to prove that they are match-winners in the absence of their two main players - Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen.

The side Strauss is leading now has sunk to ignominious depths, having already lost the series in the shortest time possible and being down 4-0, with three matches to play.

Both Flintoff and Pietersen are on rehabilitation courses from surgery, and while Pietersen's earliest estimated comeback is for the tour of South Africa in November, Flintoff, who will mull over whether to sign a modest incremental contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board or effectively go freelance over the coming days, would be back only by the time the Bangladesh series rolls around in February next year.

"It is always hard to be without your two best players but that's the reality we are in, it is not going to be changing for a while so other people have to stand up," said Strauss. "Hopefully when they do return we have got more potential match-winners.

"In a good, functioning one-day team you have got match-winners everywhere.

"The top six have all got to be capable of getting one-day international hundreds. And hundreds generally win you games.

"We are all capable of doing that but we haven't done it. Until someone does do it we are always going to find things a little bit difficult."

Strauss is adamant Australia are beatable but they have extended their dominance to 11 wins out of 14 meetings with their Ashes rivals during this limited-overs campaign.

© PTI

India bat against Sri Lanka in tri-series final

Mahendra Singh Dhoni

India's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat against Sri Lanka in the tri-series final at the Premadasa stadium here on Monday.

India brought in batsman Virat Kohli in place of opener Dinesh Karthik, while Sri Lanka retained the same team that beat the Indians by 139 runs in a league match on Saturday.

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Ashish Nehra, Rudra Pratap Singh.

Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene, Chamara Kapugedara, Thilina Kandamby, Angelo Mathews, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Thushara.

Umpires: Billy Doctrove (WIS) and Asoka de Silva (SRI)

TV umpire: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI)

Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)

cricbuzz.com