Kulkarni gets maiden call-up, Karthik recalled for Tests

CHENNAI: Rookie Mumbai pacer Dhawal Kulkarni on Friday earned a surprise call up to India's Test squad while fit-again speedster Lakshmipathy Balaji and his Tamil Nadu teammate Dinesh Karthik staged a comeback for the gruelling tour of New Zealand starting next week. ( Watch )

The 20-year-old Kulkarni, who first came into the limelight in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League, has been rewarded for his consistent show in the domestic circuit.

Apart from Kulkarni's inclusion, there were no major surprises in the teams -- Test, ODI and Twenty20 -- that were picked here after a meeting of the National selection Panel headed by former India captain Krish Srikkanth.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and paceman Munaf Patel, both of whom missed the recent ODI series against Sri Lanka, have returned to all the three squads.

Balaji, who returned to the one-day fold as a replacement for Munaf during the series against Sri lanka, forced his way back into the Test reckoning with a splendid performance as Tamil Nadu's pace spearhead in the domestic circuit.

The selectors opted to take two wicketkeepers for the 48-day tour, comprising three Tests, five One-dayers and two twenty20 matches. Karthik pipped Gujarat captain Parthiv Patel to be Mahendra Singh Dhoni's back-up.

The selectors have not tinkered much with the ODI and the Twenty20 squads, which by and large are the same that won the ODI series against Sri Lanka 4-1 and beat them in the one-off T20 game.

Opener Murali Vijay was retained in the Test squad which, however, has no place for left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, who figures in the ODI and Twenty20 squads.

Veterans Rahul Dravid and V V S Laxman have been picked only for the Test series, while Sachin Tendulkar will play the Test and ODIs but has opted out of the Twenty20 matches.

Considering the seaming conditions in New Zealand, the selectors opted for just two specialist spinners in Harbhajan and Amit Mishra for the Test matches, while picking a five-pronged pace attack.

The Test squad has three specialist openers, five middle-order batsmen and a reserve wicketkeeper in Karthik.

Zaheer Khan, who has been excellent form in recent times, will spearhead the pace attack which also includes Ishant Sharma, Munaf, Balaji and Kulkarni.

The Indian team will leave for New Zealand on February 19 and will start the tour with a Twenty20 match at Christchurch on February 25. The next Twenty20 game will played in Wellington on February 27.

The ODI series starts march 3, while the Test series will get underway from March 18.

Kulkarni, a right-arm medium pacer, came into spotlight after his performance for the Mumbai Under-17 team during the 2005-06 Vijay Merchant Trophy.

In the 13 first-class match he has played so far, Kulkarni has taken 49 wickets at an average of 22.02 and an economy rate of 2.94.

For Balaji, who had been laid low by a back injury, it is a comeback after almost four years, having played his last Test against Pakistan in Bangalore in March 2005.

Kaarthick had played his last Test against Sri Lanka at Galle in July-August last year.

Test Squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt & wk), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, V V S Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Munaf Patel, Amit Mishra, Dinesh Karthik, L Balaji, Dhawal Kulkarni, Murali Vijay.

ODI Squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt & wk), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Munaf Patel, Dinesh Kaarthick, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Pragyan Ojha, Rohit Sharma, Praveen Kumar, Irfan Pathan.

Twenty20 squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt & wk), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Munaf Patel, Dinesh Kaarthick, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Pragyan Ojha, Rohit Sharma, Praveen Kumar, Irfan Pathan, Ravindra Jadeja.

Source:http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Squad_for_NZ_tour_named_Kaarthick_in_Tests/articleshow/4123109.cms

Serena on course for third Paris Open title

PARIS: World number one Serena Williams stepped up her bid for a third Paris Open title after reaching the semi-finals with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Emilie Loit on Friday.

The American, winner in Paris in 1999 and 2003, will take on Olympic champion Elena Dementieva after the Russian saw off another Frenchwoman, Nathalie Dechy 6-3, 6-2.

Amelie Mauresmo, who plays against Poland's Agneszka Radwanska, was the last French hope still standing following Alize Cornet's 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 defeat by Serbian second seed Jelena Jankovic.

"It did not matter if I win or lose, I just wanted to play well," said Williams, who at times experienced some difficulties to adjust to her left-handed opponent's game.

"She plays a funny game. But I served well." Williams opened a 3-0 lead and although Loit broke back, the Frenchwoman surrendered her serve again to lose the set.

The second set was a stroll, the Australian Open champion eventually wrapping up victory after 66 minutes.

Earlier, Jankovic produced another erratic performance but eventually saw off Cornet after a 2-1/2 hour battle.

The second seed, who also needed three sets to reach the last eight, will take on either Mauresmo or Radwanska.

SHOULDER INJURY

Jankovic broke twice to open a 5-2 lead but let the advantage slip through her fingers as Cornet won five games in a row to snatch the set. A forehand error from Jankovic handed Cornet the set after 63 minutes.

Cornet failed to maintain the momentum in the second and dropped her serve in the third game. That break was enough for Jankovic to level the contest, especially since the Frenchwoman appeared to be troubled by a shoulder injury she picked up at last month's Australian Open.

Following an early exchange of breaks in the third set, Jankovic stole Cornet's serve again in the seventh game and called a medical time out to have her blistered feet treated.

It did not prevent her from wrapping up the win on her second match point when Cornet sent a backhand wide.

"It was an intense match," Jankovic told reporters.

"Physically, it was down to who would manage to stay longer on the court. There was a lot of running."

The Serb, who made 46 unforced errors, said she was not bothered after struggling in her first three matches at the Coubertin stadium.

"I was really out there, fighting," she said. "What matters is that despite the circumstances - no Hawkeye, the crowd being with her, I managed to win."

Things went much easier for Dementieva, who broke twice in each set and was never bothered on her serve to see off world number 58 Dechy in a match that lasted just over an hour.

"I am happy because now I am more focused since the beginning of a match. I knew I had to be focused from the start today because she is an experienced player", said Dementieva.

Source: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Serena-on-course-for-third-Paris-Open-title/articleshow/4127336.cms

Nadal edges Tsonga to enter Rotterdam semis

ROTTERDAM: Rafael Nadal had to struggle through another three-set challenge before beating Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4 on Friday to reach the Rotterdam Open semi-finals.

The world number one has been taken to three sets in all three rounds this week, but the Spaniard said his game was improving on this fast, indoor surface.

"This was definitely my best match of the week," said Nadal after two hours, 40 minutes in a contest where Tsonga fired six aces.

"Tsonga just came from winning a tournament and was extremely tough. This was a very important win for me. I'm so glad to be in my first semi-final here."

The Australian Open champion had chances in the second set to wrap up a quick victory, but couldn't convert.

A 2-0 lead in the tiebreaker went begging as Johannesburg champion Tsgona reeled off six consecutive points his way to levelling at a set each.

Nadal finally got on top with a break for a 2-0 lead in the third set, but promptly handed it back. A double-fault from Tsonga set up a match point, which Nadal converted.

Nadal will face either Gael Monfils or Julien Benneteau on Saturday for a place in the final.

Andy Murray produced a 7-6 (7/2), 4-6, 3-0 victory over French opponent Marc Gicquel, who pulled out with a hamstring injury, and then suggested a plan to try and change the new drug-testing regime.

The Scot continued to quietly rail at the new demands from international anti-doping bodies that top 50 players report their location for one hour per day every day of the year in case drug testers want to pay a surprise visit.

"I read somewhere that some Italian football teams are simply refusing to do it (report)," he said. "Sometimes things have to happen for a change to be made.

"At least 95 percent (they met in Melbourne before the Australian Open) are against the system. We're not against drug testing, we're against having to report your location every single day.

"If everyone signed something (to protest) maybe something could be changed. I don't see them banning 90 of the top 100 players."

Murray will next meet Croatia's Mario Ancic, who put out 2007 champion Mikhail Youzhny 6-4, 6-2.

Ancic, ranked 28th, has lifted two of his three career titles in the Netherlands and was a Rotterdam semi-finalist four years ago against Roger Federer.

After two years of illness and injury, the 24-year-old is finally starting to believe that his run of rotten luck has ended.

"I really believe that it's all behind me now. It’s now up to the hard work and the comeback. I'm full of confidence," added last week's Zagreb finalist against countryman Marin Cilic.

Ancic managed nine aces and saved all seven break points he faced against Youzhny, the Rotterdam winner in 2007.

Source:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Rafa-edges-Tsonga-to-enter-Rotterdam-semis/articleshow/4127441.cms

Sania storms into Pattaya Open semi-finals

BANGKOK: Unseeded Indian Sania Mirza stormed into the semi-finals of Pattaya Open, overpowering sixth-seeded Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand 7-5, 6-4 on Friday.

Sania beat world No.41 Tamarine in an hour and 45 minutes to set-up a semi-final clash with eighth seed Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia, who upset second seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 6-4, 6-1.

This will be Sania's first singles semi-final appearance since her return to the international circuit last month after a wrist surgery. Sania won the Australia Open mixed-doubles partnering compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi.

Sania, whose ranking has fallen to 126 as she was out of the circuit with the injury for most part of 2008, had earlier got the better of Tamarine here in 2006. With the victory she improved the overall head-to-head record with the Thai to 2-1.

Sania had an early control of the first set with a break of serve in the sixth game when she led 4-2. Tamarine, however, fought her way back to win three games in a row to nose ahead 5-4. The Indian then stepped up her game to take the next three games.

In the evenly fought second set, Sania converted two break points to Tamarine's one to win the match.

Source: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Sania-storms-into-Pattaya-Open-semis/articleshow/4126109.cms

IPL ideal preparation for Twenty20 World Cup: Jayawardene

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said on Monday that the forthcoming Indian Premier League would be "an ideal opportunity" for international cricketers to prepare for the International Cricket Council's Twenty20 World Cup in June.

Addressing the media at the launch of the Twenty20 trophy, Jayawardene said: "IPL has benefited players a lot and has provided opportunities to play as a team with international players who come out with different tactics."

"The IPL series would be ideal preparation for most of our guys before going for the Twenty20 World Cup tournament a few weeks later."

The World Cup trophy is now being taken to all the ICC member countries and will be on display at the Premadasa Stadium during the Twenty20 international between India and Sri Lanka.

Indian fast bowler Ishant Sharma said that it was important for India to defend the World Cup title and the team was looking forward to do it once again.

Asked how difficult it was to bowl in a Twenty20 match, Sharma said: "The whole Twenty20 looks like bowling in a batting power play. It is certainly not easy for the bowlers. But we cannot be thinking about it too much. We have to bowl in the right area."

Jayawardene said that Twenty20 has "created a whole new concept" in modern day cricket and that the Indians were "much more experienced" than Sri Lankans in the shortest form of the game.

"During the last IPL tournament we saw a lot of talent all around India in Twenty20 cricket. But no country plays similar kind of cricket and everybody comes out with different tactics and techniques. Those who are consistent with their tactics at the end of the day prevail, winning tournaments," said Jayawardena, who plays for the Kings XI Punjab in the IPL.

"The batsmen have to be more innovative and the bowlers have to adopt different options at the same time in this form of the game. I think that the skill-level of the international cricketers have been proved through the Twenty20 form. It is much more aggressive. It has influenced One-day matches and a target of 300 or 400 is often reached of late by various teams. It is definitely being beneficial to the game of cricket while creating much more buzz around the world," he said.

Source: http://ipl.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/IPL_ideal_preparation_for_T20_World_Cup/articleshow/4098482.cms

won't be a part of the T20 team: Tendulkar

MUMBAI: Master batsman Sachin Tendulkar on Thursday said he won't be a part of the Indian team for Twenty20 internationals.

Ruling himself out from playing in two Twenty20 Internationals against New Zealand in India's tour, commencing later this month, Tendulkar said that the reason was he did not want to disturb the settled team, which won the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007.

"I would continue not to play Twenty20 (international). The team is settled and I don't want to disturb it .. That's why I won't be a part of the T20 team (in New Zealand)," Tendulkar said after launching a new product for an insurance company.

The Indian team is scheduled to start the tour in NZ with two Twenty20 Internationals.

"When I had decided not to play Twenty20 after Indian tour in 2007, my body was a bit tired and it needed rest. It was not appropriate to go (to South Africa) and not give my best. After that the team had settled down and did well," the ace batsman said.

However, Tendulkar said he will continue to be part of the Mumbai Indians team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as he was associated with it from the beginning.

"I have been with Mumbai Indians from the beginning and there is continuity," he said.

Tendulkar added that he was not convinced with the ICC Umpires Referral system which he experienced first hand on India's tour of Sri Lanka last year.

"When I was there in Sri Lanka last time, I did not particularly like the Umpires Referral system. There is still an element of uncertainty in the system," the champion batsman said.

"I still prefer the hotspot system to identify the contact between the ball and bat. The LBW decisions are not convincing enough as the Hawk Eye gives a 22-yard view which the new referral system does not agree with ... as to whether the ball would have hit the stumps or not," Tendulkar said.

Tendulkar refused to comment on the umpiring decisions which went against him in the recent tour to Sri Lanka where India played five ODIs against the island nation.

"The ICC doesn't allow us to comment about umpiring decisions. Players find it sometimes a bit disappointing (about these decisions). I don't want to say anything because the entire world has seen it," he said.

Tendulkar was given out LBW in three matches, all debatable decisions that he played on the Lanka tour before he was rested for the last two ODIs.

On the upcoming tour to New Zealand for which the Indian team is to be picked on Friday and will fly in the early hours of February 19, Tendulkar said there were a few challenges facing the squad.

"It is going to be a challenge playing New Zealand in New Zealand, where the conditions are tough. They are completely different (from others)," he said.

"In Wellington, if the ball comes at 130 km per hour to the batsman from one end, it will be 5km more from the other end with the wind behind the bowler," he said.

"It will affect batting. Against the head wind, the batsmen sometimes cannot keep their eyes open," he explained.

After the conclusion of the One-day series, India are set to play three Test matches against the hosts with the final Test (April 3-7) scheduled to be played in Wellington.

The second ODI on March 6 is also to be held at the same windy venue.

Tendulkar said that the new players who have no experience of these conditions would find it somewhat difficult.

On an optimistic note, he also added that there were experienced batsmen and coaches in the team to guide them.

"We are prepared for all challenges," he said.

Tendulkar did not read much into the fact that the Indian squad would head into the series without the benefit of playing any practice ties to get used to conditions in New Zealand.

"The international (cricket) calendar is like that. And we have enough experienced players in the team. The team has got a good balance of experience and youth," he said.

Tendulkar felt that the expected return of Harbhajan Singh, who missed the short tour of Sri Lanka due to hamstring injury, would be a big boost.

"Harbhajan will have a big role to play. His contribution has always been important and will remain so," he said about the off-spinner's importance to the team's chances.

Talking about cricket records, the champion batsman felt that the batting marks of Australian legend Sir Donald Bradman, would remain unbeatable.

"As far as cricket records are concerned no one can beat the record of Sir Don Bradman. He has to come back to do those again," said Tendulkar whose batting was compared to his own by the late Australian captain.

When he was alive, the Australian icon had invited the Indian ace to his Adelaide residence for a tête-à-tête, with another champion cricketer Shane Warne, on his 90th birthday.

Tendulkar also said that the good show of the Indian team, in a way, acts as a balm for the countrymen in these difficult economic times.

"When the Indian team wins it's a case of 'tension chhodo, cricket khelo' (leave tension aside, play cricket). We play a big part in making people happy and bring smiles on their faces. They sit glued to their TV sets," he said.

Source: http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/News/News/I_wont_be_a_part_of_the_T20_team_Tendulkar/articleshow/4118394.cms?curpg=2

Decider washed away, Australia retain Chappell-Hadlee Trophy

BRISBANE: Australia on Friday retained the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy after the crucial fifth and final ODI was called off due to heavy rain during New Zealand's gutsy chase, leaving the series tied at 2-2.

The series-deciding match, which started five hours late from the scheduled start due to rains, was first reduced to a 22-over affair and, put into bat, Australia made 168 for four thanks mainly to unbeaten half centuries from wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (88) and Callum Ferguson (55).

New Zealand's run chase was further delayed by rain and their target was revised to 156 from 20 overs but the match was eventually called off after the 14th over when the visitors were 123 for six, needing 33 off six overs with four wickets in hand.

Opener Martin Guptill was batting on 64 in company of debutant Brendon Diamanti who was on 26.

New Zealand had won the first two matches in Perth and Melbourne. Australia, who retained the trophy by virtue of winning the last series between the two countries, made a come back by winning in Sydney and Adelaide.

New Zealand's run chase mainly revolved around a blistering 34-ball 64 not out by opener Guptill while his team-mates fell around him.

Australia achieved immediate success with Ben Hilfenhaus castling Brendon McCullum (2) with the second ball of the day.

Not to be deterred by the early setback, Guptill and one-down Peter Fulton scored at a brisk rate to reach 38 for one from three overs.

Then began the New Zealand slide, mainly due to extravagant shots. Fulton (22) top-edged Bracken to Ferguson and next man in, Ross Taylor (4), was also out trying for a big shot in the fifth over sent down by Mitchell Johnson.

At the other end, Guptill showed no signs of slowing down punishing Bracken and Johnson while his teammates made the procession to the pavilion.

Grant Elliott (0), Neil Broom (0) and Kyle Mills (1) fell in quick successions and New Zealand, from 40 for two after the fourth over, slumped to 73 for six after the eighth.

Guptill, who smashed five fours and three sixes, and Diamanti then starred in a 50-run stand from six overs for the unbroken seventh wicket before heavens opened up.

Earlier, Australia overcame a wobbly start and the unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 98 runs from 65 balls between Haddin and Ferguson helped the hosts post a respectable 168 for four from their 22 overs.

Haddin hit five fours and three sixes in his 65-ball knock while Ferguson faced 35 balls, seven of which were dispatched to the fence.

None of the other top order batsmen, including captain Ricky Ponting and left-hander Michael Hussey, could reach double figures in the series-deciding match.

Put into bat, Australia, were immediately on the backfoot under damp and overcast conditions, being reduced to 20 for two by the fifth over.

Kyle Mills removed James Hopes (5) and Ponting (2) and both fell to unconvincing shots.

Hopes went for a wild swing only to hole out at mid-off while Ponting perished caught behind.

David Hussey (6) paid the price for attempting a wild swing to an Iain O'Brien delivery which nipped back only to see his leg stump cart wheeling.

Michael Hussey shared a 40-run stand for the fourth wicket with Haddin in which his contribution was just nine before he fell to Vettori. At that stage Australia were 70 for four.

For New Zealand, Mills grabbed two wickets for 22 while Vettori and Iain O'Brien took a wicket each.

Source: http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Australia-retain-Chappell-Hadlee-Trophy/articleshow/4125262.cms

Pakistan asks IPL to reduce Asif ban

Pakistan's cricket chief said Friday he had asked the Indian Premier League (IPL) to reduce a one-year ban against fast bowler Mohammad Asif by two months.

The IPL on Wednesday slapped a one-year ban on Asif for failing a dope test during last year's inaugural tournament.

The ban means Asif is not eligible to be selected for international matches, under rules set out by the sport's governing body, the International Cricket Council.

But Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt said he had written to the IPL asking them to reduce the ban by two months.

"I have sent a letter to the IPL asking them to date Asif's ban from July 14, 2008, when the IPL said he failed a dope test instead of from September last year," Butt said.

Asif, 26, tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone during the opening season of the Twenty20 tournament in 2008.

The IPL said the one-year ban would run from September 22, 2008 -- when the league suspended Asif from play.

Butt said the troubled bowler was a national asset.

"We want to do what we can do for a bowler who is an asset for the team. The reduction will allow Asif to play early," said Butt.

Asif is considering an appeal against the ban and has invited sports medicine expert Michael Graham to Pakistan. Graham assisted Asif during the IPL drug tribunal hearing in Mumbai.

"The order sent by IPL is strangely signed by only one of the jury members, whereas the other two jury members have not signed it," said a statement from Asif's agents Portfolio World.

Source: http://www.cricbuzz.com/component/latest_cricket_news/Story/10463/pakistan-asks-ipl-to-reduce-asif-ban/

Second West Indies v England test abandoned

ST JOHN'S, Antigua (Reuters) - The second test between West Indies and England was embarrassingly abandoned after 10 balls on Friday because of the state of the outfield at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

Match referee Alan Hurst told a news conference play would resume, officially as the third test of what will now be a five-test series, on Sunday at the Antigua Recreation Ground -- the island's old test venue.

"Following discussions involving the local authorities and the two Boards it was clear we could not proceed with the test match at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium," said Hurst.

"The ground conditions, and especially the bowlers' run-ups, were unfit and potentially dangerous and we decided it would not be possible to rectify those fundamental issues over the course of a day or so.

"The Antigua Recreation Ground gives us the opportunity to stage a test match on the same island, something that is a prime consideration given the many supporters who have come here to watch the West Indies and England in action."



SANDY SURFACE

Play had earlier been called off for the day after West Indies' bowlers struggled to complete their run-ups because of the soft and sandy surface. England were seven for no wicket when play was halted.

About an hour after play was stopped, ground staff began to dig up the run-up at one end of the ground with shovels to try to lay a new surface.

The digging revealed that the foundations of the field, which has not been used in the past year, are based on sand with no grass roots.

Officials from the two teams and the International Cricket Council (ICC) then visited the Recreation Ground to examine whether that venue would be suitable for a re-arranged game.

While those officials deemed the playing surface acceptable, not all of the spectator areas will be open for safety reasons and the short amount of preparation time for television means the umpire referral system will not be used.

The Viv Richards Stadium was built for the World Cup two years ago and players complained about the sandy outfield at that time.

The ground was used for a test against Australia last year, largely without any problem, but has not been used since.

A regional four-day game that was due to be played at the ground two weeks ago was moved to Nevis.

The first inklings of a problem at the Sir Viv Richards ground came earlier this week when the teams were ordered by local organisers to practise at the Recreation Ground.

They only saw the conditions at the Sir Viv Richards Stadium for the first time on Thursday.



SERIOUS CONCERNS

England and Wales Cricket Board managing director Hugh Morris said after viewing the field on Thursday that the ECB had written a letter to the ICC outlining their "serious concerns about the outfield and the run-ups for the bowlers".

The abandonment was acutely embarrassing for local organisers, with West Indies Cricket Board president Julian Hunt left to apologise.

The future of test cricket in Antigua, and the tourism business it brings to the small island, is now in doubt and the ICC's chief executive Haroon Lorgat said the Sir Viv Richards ground could lose test status.

"The ultimate measure we can adopt is the sanction of the accreditation of a venue and that is what is at risk for this ground," he told reporters.

"This is not a shot in the foot for West Indies cricket, this is an arrow right through the heart," West Indies' great Richards, after whom the ground is named, told the BBC.

"This is a huge pill to swallow, I know there are a lot of folks around these parts who love their cricket."

Hundreds of England fans, many of whom have travelled to the Caribbean island, looked on in confusion as the game was halted with no information from the stadium announcer for nearly an hour

Source: http://www.cricbuzz.com/component/latest_cricket_news/Story/10482/second-west-indies-v-england-test-abandoned/

British press slam West Indies officials over sand farce

British newspapers heaped criticism on the West Indies cricket authorities on Saturday after a sand-logged pitch caused one of most bizarre days in the history of Test cricket.

The West Indies' second Test with England had to be abandoned after just 10 balls and 14 minutes of play on Friday after the outfield at the newly built Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua was deemed too dangerous.

The match will resume at a different ground on Sunday.

Former England captain Mike Atherton said the fiasco was indicative of the West Indies' fall from cricketing grace.

"Embarrassment and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) have been close companions over the past few years and nothing that happened yesterday... dispelled the notion that cricket is badly served in the Caribbean by the people who run it," he wrote in The Times.

Atherton said the sandy pitch debacle was the latest in a series of embarrassments which also included the loss of sponsors for the one-day and first-class regional tournaments and disputes between key personnel.

In a piece entitled "While we're at it, dig up the fools who run cricket", Daily Mail columnist Martin Samuel also hit the authorities for six, although he took a wider aim, at both the WICB and the International Cricket Council (ICC).

It was, Samuel wrote, "the wrong match in the wrong venue, poorly conceived from beginning to end."

"It was an inescapable thought that it was more than a day's play that had been abandoned here, it was the integrity of a sport and the love of the people who watch it," he wrote.

While the cricket authorities struggled to keep up with the riches on offer in India, "essentials go ignored," he added.

Another ex-England captain, Nasser Hussain, dismissed the stadium as a "soulless dump" and asked why the ICC had failed to send officials ahead of the match to assess the pitch.

"The ICC, the people who obsess about things like logo sizes on bats and ignore big issues like Zimbabwe, again took their eye off the ball," Hussain wrote in the Daily Mail.

Many reports focused on the disappointment felt by the travelling England supporters who had spent thousands of pounds to fly out to the Caribbean, only to see England bowled out for 51 in their second innings of the first test before Friday's chaos.

Paul Winslow, the spokesman for the diehard England supporters known as the Barmy Army, told the Daily Telegraph: "You've never seen so many people sat around in Antigua, with blue skies and sunshine, as miserable as sin."

Source: http://www.cricbuzz.com/component/latest_cricket_news/Story/10465/british-press-slam-west-indies-officials-over-sand-farce/

Bend it like Barcelona Football Club

BANGALORE: From the depths of despair in the early part of the decade, when the Catalan giants went trophyless for six years, to seeing his club rise to the top of European football must be a satisfying experience.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta indeed looks a satisfied man today. Laporta, smug to some, confident to others, surprised many when he once claimed that Barcelona was a car with three wheels when he took over in 2003 and was a Formula One car now. Not many can deny that.

The genial Spaniard, who was in Bangalore as part of a charity venture, spoke exclusively to The Times of India on the team, Guardiola's appointment and the new work ethic that has made Barca the toast of Spanish football this season. Excerpts...

Barcelona are runaway leaders in the Spanish Primera Liga at the moment, what makes the team so potent this season?

The secret of our success this season has been hard work. The team spirit is good and players are willing to work for each other. Technically, they are good. We had to make changes after last year's poor results and the tough decisions are paying off.

The decision to appoint Josep Guardiola as the coach of the first team raised a few eyebrows. What inspired you to pick 'Pep'?

It was a surprising decision to some, but Guardiola has adequate experience to be a good coach. He is a product of Barcelona so he knows the club well. He has been a tremendous player and a great leader. Some would say he was like a coach on the pitch during his playing days, so it was a natural choice.

The rumour mills in Europe are abuzz with reports of Barcelona planning on purchasing the Arsenal trio of Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie. Your comments...

At the moment we are pleased with our squad. We have a great set of players who are hardworking and talented. We have the likes of Messi, who is a genius, apart from stars like Thierry Henry, Samuel Eto'o, Xavi and Victor Valdes. We are enthusiastic about our present bunch so I cannot say anything about new signings.

Isn't there any player you would like to add to the Barca squad?

It is easy to put forward grand proposals to bring in players, but ultimately it is the coach who picks the team. The club can buy certain players but there is no use if Guardiola does not pick them!

With global icons in the team mixing with youngsters like Bojan Krkic and Andres Iniesta, how hard is it for the club and the coach to prevent certain players from feeling overwhelmed?

Again, I feel it all has to do with team spirit. All the players are equal on the pitch. During match weekends, we do not think about anything other than our opponents. We respect our rivals. That keeps us grounded.

Winning La Liga looks a real possibility for the Club given your current position. Will the focus be on European success this year?

I prefer to take each match at a time. I encourage the team to do the same. I do not like to pressure my players before matches. We will take things one day at a time.

Fast Facts

Name: Joan Laporta i Estruch
Age: 46
Profession: Corporate lawyer
Barcelona : Club member since August 17, 1974
Presidency: Elected president on June 15, 2003 and was re-elected in 2006
Achievements during tenure: Two Spanish Primera Liga titles (2005, 2006) and one Champions League title (2006)

Soruce: http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bend-it-like-Barcelona-Football-Club/articleshow/4120991.cms

Bhajji is back, Kulkarni gets surprise call-up

Mumbai: Young Mumbai pacer Dhawal Kulkarni was the surprise inclusion, while Lakshmipathy Balaji and his Tamil Nadu teammate Dinesh Kaarthick were recalled in the 16-member Indian Test squad announced on Friday for the tour of New Zealand starting next week.


Apart from the 20-year-old Dhawal, there were no other new faces in the Test squad which is by and large the same that played against England last year at home.


The national selection panel headed by former India captain Krish Srikkanth met here to pick separate teams for the three Test matches, five one-dayers and the two Twenty20 matches.


Kaarthick has been named in all the three teams as the second wicketkeeper with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni being the first-choice stumper.


Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and pacer Munaf Patel, who had been sidelined with injuries, have expectedly returned to all the three teams.


Pragyan Ojha, who figured in the Test squad against England, has, however, been left out of the Test team.


India start their campaign in New Zealand with two T20 matches, the first of which will be played on February 25.


The two teams will then square off in a five-match ODI and a three-match Test series.


Test Squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt & wk), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, V V S Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Munaf Patel, Amit Mishra, Dinesh Kaarthick, L Balaji, Dhawal Kulkarni, Murali Vijay.


ODI Squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt & wk), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Munaf Patel, Dinesh Kaarthick, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Pragyan Ojha, Rohit Sharma, Praveen Kumar, Irfan Pathan.


Twenty20 squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt & wk), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Munaf Patel, Dinesh Kaarthick, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Pragyan Ojha, Rohit Sharma, Praveen Kumar, Irfan Pathan, Ravindra Jadeja.

Source: http://cricketnext.in.com/news/bhajji-is-back-kulkarni-gets-surprise-callup/38252-13.html