McCullum may lead Kolkata Knight Riders

New Delhi: After Bangalore Royal Challengers, it is the turn of the Kolkata Knight Riders to get a new skipper.


Sources say Sourav Ganguly is unwilling to carry on as captain of the team and could step down. And the man who is tipped to replace him is New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon MCCullum.


The Knight riders management has in fact spoken to McCullum about taking over from Ganguly who retired from international cricket last October.


Mccullum had started the first season of the IPL with a bang with a smashing unbeaten 158 off just 73 balls in the 1st match of the tournament against Bangalore Royal Challengers.


Also, unlike Australian skipper Ricky Ponting and Windies captain Chris Gayle, McCullum is available for the entire duration of the tournament.

Soruce:www.cricketnext.com

Richards replaces Smith for next two ODIs

Trinidad: Seamer Ravi Rampaul of Trinidad makes a comeback into the One-Day side after a year while rookie Barbados batsman Dale Richards has been included in the squad for the third and fourth One-Dayers against England.


Devon Smith, who did not play in either of the first two ODIs due to foot injury, makes way for opening batsman Richards while Rampaul replaced Daren Powell, who has vowfully out of form during the on-going series.


Powell took only six wickets in the five-Test series at nearly 70 apiece and took 1 for 27 in five overs in the first ODI. Rampaul, who had played 30 ODIs, last appeared for West Indies on the tour of South Africa in early 2008.


The five-match ODI series is interesting poised with both the teams winning a game each with the third game slated for March 27 in Barbados.


West Indies squad: Chris Gayle (captain), Denesh Ramdin (wicketkeeper), Lionel Baker, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Fidel Edwards, Nikita Miller, Keiron Pollard, Ravi Rampaul, Dale Richards, Darren Sammy, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Lendl Simmons.

Source:http://cricketnext.in.com/news/richards-replaces-smith-for-next-two-odis/39363-13.html

South Africa ready to host second edition of IPL

New Delhi: IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi's search for a country to host the second edition of the Indian Premier League seems to be zeroing in on South Africa with every passing minute. South Africa have given the green signal to host the second season of the mega event, sources told CNN-IBN on Tuesday.


Modi met Cricket South Africa CEO Gerald Majola at an undisclosed venue to discuss the possibility of hosting the second edition of the Twenty20 event here. And after the meeting, sources told CNN-IBN that the deal has been virtually sealed to host the league in South Africa.


It is reported that six venues have been identified during the meeting to hold the IPL matches. Durban, Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Pretoria, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth are the proposed venues for the games to be held.


South Africa says there will be no trouble starting the event from April 10 as per the original schedule and have assured full security, it is learnt. Cricket South Africa, it is reported, has also offered full support to the IPL.


Modi is expected to fly out from Johannesburg for London on Tuesday evening where he will hold talks with the England and Wales Cricket Board, exploring the possibility of hosting the league there. But that meeting may now be irrelevant as the rainbow nation is likely to get the all important nod from Modi and Co.

Source:http://cricketnext.in.com/

Shuttlers aim to exploit home conditions at Indian Open

Hyderabad, Mar 24 (PTI) Saina Nehwal was on guard for lower-ranked rivals, while Chetan Anand was not looking beyond the first round but Anup Sridhar was targetting the semis as Indian shuttlers geared up for the Yonex Sunrise Indian Open Grand Prix that rolls out here tomorrow.

With a relatively easy draw and home conditions, second seed Saina is undoubtedly a hot favourite at the event but the Indian, who opens her campaign against unseeded Chew Yen Daphane Ng of Malaysia, is not taking her opponents lightly as their game is unknown to her.

"I have never played against her (Chew). I don't know her game, I don't know her weakness or strength, so I am not setting any targets as such. It is an important tournament for me and I know it would be tough," Saina told PTI.

"There are some good players like Julia (Pei Xian Wong), Maria (Kristin Yulianti) and others. Each of them are good. The first two rounds are OK and I know people expect me to win and take it easy. One may say that I have a 60 per cent chance of winning because they are lower ranked than me but I won't take any player lightly," she said.

Meanwhile, Chetan will be up against a lesser known Chong Chieh Lok of Malaysia in the first round but the world number 12 Indian doesn't want to put pressure on himself and has avoided a look at the draw.
PTI

Saina's Olympic nemesis comes calling at Indian Open

Hyderabad, Mar 24 (PTI) She crushed Saina Nehwal's Olympic dreams in Beijing and world number 18 Maria Kristin Yulianti is hoping for an encore if the two face off in the Indian Open Grand Prix Badminton tournament starting here tomorrow.

"Saina is a world class player. What happened in Beijing is past. This is a new tournament and a new challenge. I have always enjoyed playing against Saina. She is really fast and cover the court really well. I hope I can defeat her this time too," 23-year-old Yulianti said.

Yulianti had beaten Saina in the Olympic quarterfinals where she came back from 12-19 down to get the better of the Indian.

Saina is not the only one Yulianti is wary of and said she is not taking her other opponents lightly either.

"The field is tough and if one has to win this one, she has to be really at her best," she said.

Playing such a big tournament after a long knee injury lay-off after the Olympics, Yulianti said she is here to acclimatise herself for the world championship to be held here in August.
PTI

Harendra eyes top-six finish for Indian hockey this year

Harendra eBhopal, Mar 24 (PTI) India's men's hockey coach in-charge Harendra Singh is eyeing a top-six finish in world ranking this year and confident about winning the Azlan Shah Cup tournament in Malaysia next month.

"India ranks ninth among the hockey playing countries and we are aiming to finish among the top-six nations in the sport by the end of the year," Harendra said today.

Talking to PTI at the central regional centre of Sports Authority of India (SAI), where the team for upcoming Azlan Shah hockey starting on April 5 will be picked up, Harendra said his boys will adopt an attacking strategy this time to clinch the title.

"We are going to lift the Azlan Shah Hockey Cup.

"The team will play an attacking game for which India is known world over. I don't believe in playing a defensive game as it does not lead to victory," Harendra said.

India finished runner-up in the tournament last year.

"The players' morale is high after the team's stunning performance in New Zealand, where India won the Test series 2-0," he added.

Five teams - New Zealand, Pakistan, Egypt, Malaysia, besides India will participate in the tournament.

PTI

England lose to WI despite Strauss' ton

Providence, Guyana: Andrew Strauss hit his third one-day international hundred, but England still went down to a 21-run defeat at the hands of the West Indies at the Guyana National Stadium on Sunday.


The captain made 105 from 129 balls as England, chasing 265 for victory, were dismissed for 243 in 48.2 overs to allow West Indies to draw level at 1-1 in the five-match series.


The third and fourth matches will be contested at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Friday and Sunday, with the final game set for St. Lucia on April 6.


England had won the opener here on Friday when West Indies coach John Dyson embarrassingly miscalculated the Duckworth-Lewis method and handed his opponents a one-run win.


"We lost too many wickets too early and we were always behind the eight ball," admitted Strauss.


"We needed things to go our way in the last powerplay but with the medium pacers bowling, it wasn't easy to get the ball away. It was getting lower and slower, so we had to take risks to get runs.


"It would have been nice to have gone 2-0 in the series, but we have a good chance of winning in Barbados where the wicket might suit us better."


West Indies skipper Chris Gayle said his team had a point to prove.


"We were really down after what happened on Friday," said Gayle. "We wanted to give the crowd something to cheer about and I want to commend the guys for the way they played."


Man-of-the-match Shivnarine Chanderpaul scored his 10th one-day hundred of 112 not out from 134 balls to lead West Indies to 264 for eight from their 50 overs.


Strauss reached his hundred from 126 balls with a drive through cover for two off Kieron Pollard, but England lost wickets steadily.


Their best stands were 50 between Strauss and Owais Shah for the third wicket, and 59 between the England captain and Dmitri Mascarenhas for the sixth.


Mascarenhas made 29 and Shah made 22 and were the only other batsmen that passed 20.


Dwayne Bravo and Pollard both collected two wickets for West Indies.


Earlier, England, particularly Paul Collingwood and Mascarenhas, bowling their modest medium-pace, restricted West Indies to 57 runs in the last 10 overs and collected four cheap wickets to scupper the home team's hunt for quick late runs.


The tourists had been under pressure from Chanderpaul and compatriot Ramnaresh Sarwan when they put on 133 from 177 balls for the third wicket, after West Indies elected to bat and lost Lendl Simmons for a duck and fellow opener Gayle, for 20, inside the first six overs.


Urged on by the largest crowd for an international match in Guyana, Chanderpaul and Sarwan hit 74 from 89 balls. But James Anderson had Sarwan caught at deep mid-off in the 35th over, and Collingwood and Mascarenhas prevailed in the closing overs to limit the damage of the West Indies batsmen.


Anderson captured three for 37 from nine overs, Collingwood took three for 49 from 10 overs, and Dimitri Mascarenhas bagged two for 53 from 10 overs.


Source:http://cricketnext.in.com/news/england-lose-to-wi-despite-strauss-ton/39318-13.html

Harris takes six as SA win by an innings

Cape Town: Mitchell Johnson hit an 86-ball century for Australia before South Africa completed an innings and 20-run win on the fourth day of the third Test at Newlands on Sunday.


Johnson and Andrew McDonald (68) shared an Australian record seventh wicket stand of 163 to delay South Africa's consolation victory. Australia won the series 2-1.


Left-arm spinner Paul Harris took six for 127 and fast bowler Dale Steyn three for 96.


South Africa were on course for a crushing victory when Australia lost their sixth wicket at 218, still 224 short of avoiding an innings defeat.


But McDonald and Johnson, voted man of the series, went for their shots and thrashed a tiring bowling attack.


They put on 163 in 122 minutes off 161 balls to break the Australian seventh wicket record against South Africa of 160 by Richie Benaud and Graham McKenzie in 1963-64.


The stand was ended when McDonald was caught at silly mid-off off Harris.Johnson was on 95 while Peter Siddle was out first ball, also caught at silly mid-off.


Johnson, who was stranded on 96 not out in the first Test in Johannesburg, faced Steyn, who placed eight fielders on the boundary in an invitation to Johnson to take a single and expose new batsman Bryce McGain.


But Johnson pulled the second ball for six to raise a maiden Test century. In the same over Johnson called for a suicidal second run and McGain was run out at the bowler's end. Johnson finished on 123 not out off 103 balls with 11 fours and five sixes

Only 40 runs were scored during the morning for the loss of Simon Katich's wicket but three wickets fell between lunch and tea before McDonald and Johnson came together.


South Africa had to wait 98 minutes before Harris had Katich caught at mid-off after Katich and Mike Hussey dug in with cautious batting, adding just 36 runs from the start of play.


Katich was out for 54, adding 10 runs in 60 balls before playing a loose drive. He could have been out without adding to his overnight 44 when Harris put down a straightforward chance at gully off Steyn in the ninth over of the morning.


Hussey was caught at gully off Steyn four overs after lunch for 39 and Brad Haddin became Harris' third victim when he holed out to mid-on.


Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke made a fighting 47 before he was bowled off an inside edge by Steyn, armed with the second new ball, shortly before tea.


Clarke earlier was given out by umpire Steve Bucknor after he appeared to be caught behind off Jacques Kallis when he had made two. But Clarke immediately asked for a referral and survived when replays showed his bat hit his pad.


It was the fourth successive time a decision by Bucknor, standing in his last Test match before retirement, was overturned on referral.

Source:http://cricketnext.in.com/news/harris-takes-six-as-sa-win-by-an-innings/39312-13-1.html

BCCI pulls the plug, takes IPL out of India

Mumbai: It's official. Season two of the Indian Premier League will be played outside India. The final schedule and venue will be announced on Monday.


The high-profile Twenty20 tournament might be held in some other country, possibly England, after a BCCI working committee meeting decided to shift the tournament out of India.


The tournament will have all the 59 matches that were originally scheduled for the IPL. South Africa also appears to be in the reckoning to host the tournament.


"My apologies to the people of India, who have loved this game and who have given us huge support, that we are not able to hold this event in India," BCCI President Shashank Manohar said after a high-level meeting between officials.


The extraordinary circumstances finally brought out an extraordinary solution - the BCCI brought the suspense over the second edition of the IPL to an end as they declared it will now be taken outside India.


"We are sorry that we have to move the IPL out of India," IPL commissioner Lalit Modi said. "We would have loved to, we have tried over a hundred iterations to convince them. But unfortunately, because of the clash with election dates we could not do it. But at the same time, people will be able to watch it on television in their homes."


With the Government playing hardball on the security issue with less than three weeks for the tournament to start, this was perhaps the only feasible option for the BCCI to go ahead with its billion dollar league.

"Because of the attitude of the government, that they are not in a position to provide security, particularly by the state of Maharashtra and the state of Andhra Pradesh, we were forced to take a decision to move the event out of India," Manohar said.


And now that the wheels have been set in motion, the IPL isn't wasting anymore time on taking a final call on its new destination.


"Our teams (IPL officials) are moving to various countries from tomorrow night to explore (our options) and we will have a final schedule as to which country we are going to be in by tomorrow evening," Modi said.


Sources say England and South Africa are the front-runners to play hosts. England is said to be the preferred venue, although the South Africans are keen as well.


"If the BCCI needs help on matters, we normally talk to each other, and we'd be delighted to help if we can," England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke said.


An official statement from Cricket South Africa, on the other hand, said: "We received an official approach this morning to be one of several options they are considering to host the IPL outside India. At this stage we are looking forward to holding discussions with IPL officials to discuss the proposal in detail."


Last year the IPL shattered the myth that the Indian fans only supported their national team. Now, the IPL bosses are hoping the cynical view that the tournament simply cannot succeed unless its played in India will be proved wrong.

Source:http://cricketnext.in.com/news/bcci-pulls-the-plug-takes-ipl-out-of-india/39304-13-1.html

Maharashtra Police divided on IPL dates

New Delhi/ Mumbai, March 20: The Maharashtra Police today appeared to be divided on holding Indian Premier League matches in the state even as the organisers of the cash-rich cricket tournament claimed to have worked out multiple schedules to deal with various security apprehensions.While Maharashtra Director General of Police and election security in-charge Suprakash Chakravarty, expressing his personal opinion, called for a postponement of the Twenty20 event, Mumbai Police Commissioner Hasan Gafoor said the city was ready to host the matches.On a day of frantic developments, the statements of two of Maharashtra’s top police officials only added to the confusion surrounding the fate of the league, scheduled from April 10 to May 24.Asserting that conducting free and fair Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra was his top priority, Chakravarty said he cannot spare his men for the Twenty20 matches.

Sachin’s 42nd ton puts India on top

Hamilton, March 20: Sachin Tendulkar gave ample display of his class with a masterly 160 as India tightened the noose around New Zealand by taking a huge 241-run lead and snapping up three early Kiwi wickets in the first cricket Test here today.Tendulkar not only notched up his 42nd Test century but also anchored the innings brilliantly to steer India to a commanding first innings total of 520.Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (47) and Zaheer Khan (51 not out) chipped in with useful contributions as the visitors took advantage of a good batting track of Seddon Park to put the host team on the back-foot.The Kiwis were struggling at 75 for three at close on the third day, still trailing by 166 runs.With two full days left, the Black Caps will have to bat out of their skin to prevent India from taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.Indians took the wicket of night watchman Kyle Mills in the very last ball to cap a day, completely dominated by them with Tendulkar standing out with his heroic knock.

India out of ICC Women's WC despite win over West Indies

SYDNEY: India defeated West Indies comprehensively by eight-wickets on Thursday but the result was not good enough to ensure them a place in Sunday's summit-clash of the ICC Women's World Cup.

The Indians, who has a slim chance of making it to the final show down, were dealt a severe blow with Australia tilting their fate by posting a eight-wicket win over England in another Super Six match on Thursday.

For progressing to the final, India needed to beat the West Indies and hoped that New Zealand go down to Pakistan and England beat Australia in the respective Super Six matches.

India, however, got a chance to make amends for the disappointment as the win over West Indies has ensured them a place in the third-place playoff match against Australia on Saturday with both the teams automatically qualifying for the next World Cup.

Chasing a timid target of 84 at the Bankstown Oval here, the Indians romped home with 193 balls to spare with opener Sulakshana Naik (39 0ff 48) and in-form Mithali Raj (34 off 41) doing the bulk of the scoring.

Earlier, West Indian skipper Merissa Aguilleira's decision to bat first backfired as right-arm spinner Priyanka Roy (4/14) recorded her career-best figures to run through the West Indian batting order after Amita Sharma (2/14) and Rumeli Dhar (1/16) did the early damage.

The weak West Indian batting line up cut a sorry figure once again as five of their batters made ducks including captain Aguilleira.

Opener Stafanie Taylor (29) and one-down Pamela Lavine tried hard to resurrect the innings with a 45-run first-wicket partnership, but after the dismissal of Lavine in the 15th over, the West Indians batting order crumbled like a pack of card, losing their last seven wickets for just 12 runs.

In reply, the Indians started their timid run chase on a cautious note with opening duo of Anjum Chopra (3) and Naik adding 25 runs in six overs.

With a modest target to chase, Indian skipper Jhulan decided to give debutant Poonam Raut a chance ahead of experienced Mithali but the 19-year-old squandered the opportunity and registered her name in the record books by scoring a duck in her first match.

From there on, there was no looking back for the Indians as Naik and Mithali played sensibly to avoid further hiccups an take their side to victory in 17.5 overs.

For the Windies, pacer D Lewis scalped both the Indian wickets.

Source:http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India-fail-to-enter-Womens-WC-final-despite-win/articleshow/4286258.cms

South Africa reduce Australia to 66/2 at lunch

CAPE TOWN: South Africa recovered from dropping both opening batsmen to reduce Australia to 66/2 at lunch on the first day of the third and final Test at Newlands on Thursday.

South Africa, having already lost the series, gave a debut to Imraan Khan but he made a sorry start to Test cricket when he missed an easy catch in the gully when Simon Katich, on nine, edged a square-drive off Makhaya Ntini.

The left-handed Katich had moved on to 26 not out by lunch. Fellow opener Phillip Hughes, who led the attack in a first-wicket stand of 58, also escaped on 33 when JP Duminy made a hash of a catch off spinner Paul Harris at extra cover.

The mistake did not prove costly, however, because Hughes missed a sweep at left-armer Harris just two balls later and was adjudged leg-before-wicket when still on 33.

If the batsman had called for a review he may have got the decision overturned because television replays suggested he was struck outside the line of off stump.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting, having won the toss for the sixth successive time against South Africa, who are already 2-0 down in the series, and chosen to bat first on a flat pitch under clear skies, then came to the crease.

But the most-feared Australian batsman was out in the next over for a duck when he edged a delivery that swung away late from Albie Morkel, playing in his first Test, into the gloves of wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.

Michael Hussey was up next and went into lunch on five not out.

Ntini conceded just six runs, four of them off his first delivery, in seven overs, while Morkel had one for 17 in six overs and Harris one for three in three.

Source:http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/South-Africa-reduce-Australia-to-662-at-lunch/articleshow/4287581.cms

Marseille and Werder Bremen reach UEFA Cup quarter-finals

LONDON: An extra time goal from on-loan English-born defender Tyrone Mears sent Olympique Marseille into the UEFA Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday. Me ars headed in from close range in the 110th minute to secure the Ligue 1 side a 2-2 draw at Ajax Amsterdam, putting them through 4-3 on aggregate.

Werder Bremen, who ousted favourites AC Milan in the previous round, also knocked out St Etienne. The Germans, 1-0 up from the first leg, advanced with a 2-2 draw in France.

Mears was making a rare start for Marseille after his controversial move from English Championship (second division) side Derby County in September. The defender was heavily fined by Derby who said he had left without permission.

Then-manager Paul Jewell said Mears would never play for the club again while he was in charge and although the right back returned to Derby, the clubs came to an agreement and the player headed back to Marseille on a year-long loan.

Mears scored for Marseille when he pounced to head in a rebound after Boudewijn Zenden's free kick was blocked. Ajax, 2-1 down from the first leg, had forced extra time when Serbia striker Miralem Sulejmani fired them into a 2-1 lead with 16 minutes left of the return leg.

Earlier, Cameroonian midfielder Eyong Enoh sprung the offside trap to latch on to a Luis Suarez through ball and shoot Ajax ahead after 33 minutes. Marseille hit back two minutes later when Bakari Kone crossed low for an unmarked Mamadou Niang to equalise.

Ajax finished with 10 men after defender Bruno Silva was sent off in the closing seconds for elbowing Hatem Ben Arfa. Werder took control against St Etienne after first-half goals from Sebastian Proedl and Claudio Pizarro left the Ligue 1 side needing to score four times to progress.

The hosts did not give up though and responded with second-half goals from Yohan Benalouane and Sebastien Grax. The six remaining last-16 second-leg ties take place on Thursday, with holders Zenit St Petersburg needing to overturn a 2-0 defeat at Udinese to remain in the competition.

The draw for the quarter-finals and semi-finals will be held in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday.

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

Azarenka stuns Safina to reach Indian Wells semi-finals

INDIAN WELLS: Victoria Azarenka stunned top-seeded Russian Dinara Safina 6-7 (4/7), 6-1, 6-3 on Wednesday to book a semi-final berth at the Indian Wells hardcourt tennis tournament.

The 19-year-old from Belarus, seeded eighth, denied Safina's latest bid to seize the world number one ranking from Serena Williams, who is idle this week.

Safina could have supplanted the American, who beat her in the Australian Open final, by reaching the final here.

But in Azarenka, she ran into a player brimming with confidence after capturing her first two career WTA titles this year - in Brisbane and Memphis.

Safina appeared to have the match in her grasp when she took a 3-1 lead in the third set, but she couldn't hold on to the lead.

"I just went away from my game every time I was up," Safina said. "From the second set I just gave all into her hands. She's a very aggressive player, so she was just better than me."

Azarenka notched her first victory over Safina in four career meetings.

"I have no words to say," she beamed. "It was a tough match. I was almost losing it and I pulled it off."

In the semi-finals, Azarenka will face her doubles partner, fourth-seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva, a 6-4, 6-2 winner over Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki.

Currently at No.6 in the standings, Zvonareva has one title to her credit already this year, at Pattaya City.

A break in the third game was all Zvonareva needed to win the first set. She broke her 18-year-old opponent three times in the second to secure the victory.

Zvonareva won the last five games of the second set, but had to fight off break points in both the fourth and sixth games.

"It wasn't easy out there," she said. "I had my ups and downs... I'm pretty happy to get through this one."

Quarter-finals in the bottom half of the draw are scheduled for Thursday, when defending champion Ana Ivanovic, the fifth seed, takes on Sybille Bammer of Austria and seventh-seeded Pole Agnieszka Radwanska plays 17-year-old Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

The second-round exits of second-seeded Jelena Jankovic and third-seeded Elena Dementieva left Zvonareva is the top seed remaining in the field.

Source:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Azarenka-stuns-Safina-to-reach-semi-finals/articleshow/4286059.cms

Nadal reaches Indian Wells quarter-finals

INDIAN WELLS: Rafael Nadal saved five match points en route to a 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-0 victory over David Nalbandian on Wednesday to reach the quarter- finals of the Indian Wells hard court tennis tournament.

Nalbandian's crushing forehand had the world number one on the ropes, but the Spaniard withstood the onslaught. He saved five match points, producing winners on four of them, to take the second set to the tie-breaker.

Nadal quickly gained the upper hand in the tie-break, as Nalbandian netted a volley, double-faulted and then netted another volley.

Once Nadal had pocketed the set, Nalbandian faded rapidly and Nadal wrapped up the victory in two hours and 48 minutes - almost on the stroke of 2am.

Nadal next faces another Argentinian, sixth-seeded Juan Martin del Potro, a 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/3) winner over American John Isner.

Nadal's escape, against an opponent who had beaten him in two previous encounters back in 2007, meant that the "big four" of the men's tennis circuit - Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray - all made it into the quarter-finals of the first Masters series event of the year.

World No.2 Federer, playing his first tournament since falling in five sets to Nadal in the Australian Open final, got past Chilean Fernando Gonzalez 6-3, 5-7, 6-2.

He'll face fourth-seeded Murray, who had an unexpectedly easy time as Tommy Robredo retired with an injured right wrist with Murray leading 6-2, 3-0.

Djokovic, the defending champion and third seed, survived some shaky moments to pull off a 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (8/6) victory over Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka.

He booked a quarter-final clash with seventh-seeded American Andy Roddick, who beat tenacious Spaniard David Ferrer 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 6-3.

Djokovic and Roddick will be renewing a rivalry that saw them meet in the quarter-finals of the last two Grand Slams.

Former world number one Federer, who has spent the time since the Australian Open recovering from a lingering back ailment and getting in some quality practice, said he enjoyed his tussle with Gonzalez, the 2007 Australian Open runner-up.

"I enjoy playing Fernando because it's so tactical, but then at the same time it's so brutal, so aggressive. You think you have a slight chance to win the point, and then you realize no, there's actually none."

Nevertheless, Federer stretched his record over Gonzalez to 12-1, and lined up a quarter-final clash that promised another test of his ground game against Spain's Fernando Verdasco.

Verdasco, who powered to the semi-finals of the Australian Open where he was felled by Nadal, defeated unseeded German Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.

Like Federer, Scotland's Murray arrived in California after some time off, having withdrawn after reaching the quarter-finals in Dubai two weeks ago and then skipping the Davis Cup because of a virus.

Murray had lost to Robredo in their last two encounters and got off to a slow start, dropping his serve to trail 1-2.

"Because I haven't played that much, I'm sort of trying to work my way into the match by making a lot of balls early on," Murray said. "Tommy was able to dictate a lot of points. That wasn't through my errors. He had a couple of big returns and got ahead of me. After that I started to play a little bit more aggressive."

Murray said he knew Robredo was battling a wrist injury, but said it was hard to gauge how much his opponent was bothered by it.

"Mentally a wrist problem can be tough. It's not so much hitting the ball that's worrying, it's just the pain that's there and feeling like something might happen," he said.

Murray next faces Croatian Ivan Ljubicic, who saved five match points to beat Russian Igor Andreev 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4) in a match lasting more than three hours.

In women's matches, Eighth-seeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus shocked top-seeded Russian Dinara Safina 6-7 (4/7), 6-1, 6-3 to reach the semi-finals.

Azarenka denied Safina's bid to topple American Serena Williams from the world number one rankings, which the Russian would have done had she reached the final here.

In the semi-finals Azarenka will face her doubles partner, fourth-seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva, who beat ninth-seeded Dane Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-2.

Source:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Nadal-reaches-Indian-Wells-quarter-finals/articleshow/4286589.cms

Dharamshala to be ready for IPL by April 15

New Delhi: High on spirits after getting the nod to host this season's Indian Premier League matches, the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) on Wednesday said the stadium in Dharamshala would be ready for the Twenty20 tournament by April 15.


HPCA President Anurag Thakur, who played a key role in bringing the IPL to the hill state, said the the upgradation of the stadium will be done as per international guidelines and the installation of floodlights would be completed within next 15 days.


"The venue of Twenty20 IPL matches at Dharamshala Cricket Stadium will be completed according to international standards by April 15," Thakur said in a statement.


"The work on installation of flood lights is on war footing and will be completed in next 15 days," he added.


In place of Delhi, Jaipur and Vishakapatnam, the IPL officials have included Dharamshala and Ahmedabad as the new venues in their revised third schedule submitted to the Home Ministry after the concerned state governments expressed their unwillingness to host the matches due to security reasons during the general elections that coincides with the event.


The HPCA President said the stadium in Dharamshala boasts of all the necessary world-class facilities required to host international matches.


"The stadium has been constructed with initial cost of Rs 35 crore and it has seating capacity of 18,500 visitors. It has separate boxes for corporates and media. It's also got sauna and gymnasium club house for the players," Thakur said.

The stadium in Dharamshala, which is situated 4000 feet above the sea level and has the beautiful Dhauldahar mountains in the back drop, has already hosted an international match between India 'A' and South Africa 'A' team, besides holding various domestic games.


Thakur also viewed Dharamshala will be an added attraction for the cricket lovers and tourists after the IPL matches.


"The valley attracts maximum foreign tourists during this period and it will further add to the promotion of tourism in the state," he said.


The HPCA President also said the Chief Minister of the state has already informed the Home Ministry that they are in a position to hold the IPL matches by themselves without central forces.


"Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has already told the Union Government that the state will provide fool-proof security to the event at its own level and there is no need for any paramilitary forces," Thakur said.


"The Chief Minister has directed the police and home department to make elaborate security arrangements for the players and the visitors," he added.

Source:http://cricketnext.in.com/news/dharamshala-to-be-ready-for-ipl-by-april-15/39193-13-1.html

Security concerns for taking out Delhi, Jaipur: Modi

Mumbai: Delhi and Jaipur have been taken off the IPL's revamped schedule given to the Home Ministry by the Twenty20 League organisers because of security concerns in these two centres, according to IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi.


"There are security issues in these two states and that's the reason Delhi and Jaipur have been taken out of the IPL schedule," Modi told reporters here on Wednesday.


Modi explained that if these states desire to conduct IPL matches they need to talk directly to the MHA and get the clearance.


The IPL is battling hard to keep the money-spinning League's second season going in the wake of the recent terror attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Pakistan and its clash of dates with the general elections leading to security concerns in states where the matches are scheduled.


"We are working hard to finalise the IPL schedule," Modi said.


The IPL schedule, which has come under rough weather because of security issues raised by the states as it coincides with the polls, has been changed twice and is awaiting approval from the Home Ministry.


The IPL has fixed April 10-May 24 as the period for holding the second edition of the T20 League.


Source:http://cricketnext.in.com/cricket_news/

Runs dry up for India despite gritty fifties

Hamilton: Rahul Dravid scored a patient half century and shared a 106-run second wicket partnership with Gautam Gambhir as India reached 197 for three by tea on the second day of the first Test against New Zealand.


Sachin Tendulkar was unbeaten on 25 and V.V.S. Laxman was on six as India reached the interval 82 runs behind New Zealand's first innings total of 279.


Gambhir was the first batsman out between lunch and tea, caught by wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum off Chris Martin for 72 and Dravid was bowled by Ian O'Brien for 66 to end an innings which lasted three hours.


Dravid and Gambhir lifted India from 36 for one, when Virender Sehwag was run out for 24 in the third over of the day, to 142 for two at the fall of Gambhir's wicket.


Gambhir reached his 10th half century in 117 minutes from 97 balls and Dravid, who batted with unshakeable concentration and rigid defense, notched his 54th from 110 balls with 10 fours.


While Gambhir walked into the medium pacers and scored from a variety of shots, heavily on the leg side, Dravid played from a firm base at the crease, cut strongly and took advantage of a gap in the slip field to take runs through third man.


Martin made the first breakthrough of the session when he generated reverse swing to the left-handed Gambhir who, driving lavishly, edged the ball at shoulder height to McCullum.


New Zealand's celebration of the wicket was short-lived because it brought to the wicket Tendulkar, in his 157th test, who shares with Dravid the third-most profitable partnership in test history.

Tendulkar has surpassed Australia's Allan Border to become the second most-capped player in test history behind another Australian, Steve Waugh.


Dravid and Tendulkar have generated more than 5,000 test runs for India, the pair behind only Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes of the West Indies and Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer of Australia in test cricket partnerships.


Their partnerships produce more than 50 runs per innings on average but they had added only 35 on Thursday when O'Brien ripped a ball through Dravid's defense, knocking down his off stump.


Dravid batted with typical application for 183 minutes, hitting 12 fours while Gambhir occupied the crease for 174 minutes and hit 11 boundaries.


Gambhir's only previous blemish was to run out Sehwag for 24 early in the day, the start of which was delayed 15 minutes by the effects of rain. Gambhir turned a delivery to midwicket, took an easy single and called for the second as the ball was fielded by left-hander James Franklin.


Franklin's throw knocked down the stumps at the non-striker's end with Sehwag still more than a meter out of his ground.


Tendulkar offered a chance before tea, skying an attempted pull shot off Vettori when he was 11 but Daniel Flynn was unable to hold the catch running back on the leg side.

Source:http://cricketnext.in.com/news/runs-dry-up-for-india-despite-gritty-fifties/39203-13-1.html

Hard to pick winner for ICC World Twenty20: Lara

TRINIDAD (West Indies): Former West Indies captain Brian Lara lifted the ICC World Twenty20 trophy in Trinidad on Sunday and then admitted it was tough to pick a side that might do the same on June 21 at Lord's.

But if he had to choose a likely winner the batting legend said the finalists in the inaugural event in 2007, India and Pakistan, might be the ones to look out for because of their batting strength and an ability to innovate.

Lara displayed the trophy to a packed house at the Queen's Park Oval during the interval of the T20 International between the West Indies and England, part of the promotion of June's event that will take place in England.

And afterwards he said: "It was a great feeling to pick up the trophy before the winning captain and nice to be part of the build-up but, as for picking a winner, it's very hard to predict as in Twenty20 cricket you never know what will happen.

"In 2007 I supported the West Indies (to win) due to the fact that, as a team, we may have been short in Test cricket but very good over a shorter game and Twenty20 was a version of the game, with players like Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Dwayne Bravo, I thought we would love.

"But then Bangladesh came and beat us and we didn't win a match so that shows how difficult it is to predict. A team like India or Pakistan, accustomed to good batting tracks, flat tracks and capable of being very innovative could be the ones to walk away with the trophy," said Lara.

Two years into his retirement from top-line cricket, Lara remains the holder of the highest score in international history thanks to his 400 not out in a Test against England in Antigua in 2004.

And although he said he still loved Test cricket above all the other formats of the game, he also agreed there was an obvious place for the Twenty20 version.

"I'm still a connoisseur of Test cricket as the true test of any sportsman," he said. "But I think Twenty20 cricket is a great invention, especially for the spectator. It's a great addition to the game and I look forward to seeing the ICC World Twenty20."

Lara also reflected on what it was like to lift silverware at an ICC event, having done that in the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy when the West Indies produced a remarkable come-from-behind success in the final against England at The Oval.

"It was a great feeling and this from a captain not accustomed to winning anything," he said.

"We'd just lost four Tests against England and then came back from deep trouble in the final when we were seven or eight wickets down late on.

"Courtney Browne and Ian Bradshaw were able to pull it off for us and that was an excellent feeling.

"I've never done it (lifted the trophy) in a World Cup but to play against all the other international countries in one tournament and win was a great feeling and definitely one of the greatest moments of my career," he added.

The ICC World Twenty20 trophy is designed and manufactured by Links of London. It is made of silver and rhodium and weighs approximately 7.5kgs. It measures 51 cms in height with a width of 19cms at the top and 14cms at the base

The ICC World Twenty20 2009 sees 12 of the top men's teams and the top eight women's teams competing in a best-of-the-best event at four venues - Lord's, The Oval, Trent Bridge and Taunton (women's matches only).

Each of the men's and women's semi-finals and the finals will be played as double-headers at the same venues offering great value to spectators and great exposure to the women's game.

India won the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in 2007 in South Africa when it beat Pakistan by five runs in the final in Johannesburg.

Soruce:http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Hard-to-pick-winner-for-ICC-World-Twenty20-Lara/articleshow/4270154.cms