Shane Bond retires from Test cricket

WELLINGTON: Dynamic but injury-prone New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond announced his retirement from Test cricket on Wednesday, saying his body was no longer up to the rigours of the five-day game.

"It's been a tough call, because Test cricket remains the ultimate form of the game, but I'm comfortable I've made the right choice," the 34-year-old said.

Bond's latest comeback in the Test series against Pakistan ended after the first Test -- in which he took eight wickets
-- when an abdominal muscle tear ruled him out of the remaining two matches.

"I've worked really hard to get back to Test match fitness -- it's what I've been working towards for the past two years -- and I feel I gave as much as I could," Bond said.

"But looking back, so many of my injuries have come during Test cricket.

"Unfortunately my body just won't let me continue to play at that level, given the workload and demands of Test cricket."

Bond played only 18 Tests after his debut in 2001 because of a series of injuries and his involvement last year in the rebel Indian Cricket League.

But his pace and swing brought him 87 Test wickets at the impressive average of 22.09. He took five wickets in an innings on five occasions, the most recent against Pakistan in Dunedin last month after his two-year Test absence.

Bond said he remained committed to playing one-day internationals for New Zealand.

"This way I hope I've got a better chance of continuing to play. I hope I'll be able to continue to contribute to the team and to New Zealand cricket fans for a while yet."

He is aiming to rejoin New Zealand for the limited-overs matches against Australia, which start with two Twenty20 internationals in late February.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan said he understood Bond's decision.

"Of course we're disappointed that he won't be part of the Test line-up, but New Zealand Cricket supports his decision to focus on limited-overs cricket and hopes that this decision will prolong his international career," he said.

"He remains one of the best fast bowlers in the international game and we're delighted that he's doing all he can to keep playing."

TOI

Federer and Serena named ITF World Champs

PARIS: Roger Federer has been named International Tennis Federation (ITF) champion for the fifth time with Serena Williams taking the women's award for the second time.

They will receive their awards at the annual ITF World Champions Dinner on June 1 in Paris, during the French Open.

Federer had an outstanding year regaining the world No.1 ranking from Rafael Nadal after completing a career Grand Slam at Roland Garros with victory over Robin Soderling in the final.

He went on to surpass Pete Sampras by winning his 15th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon after a memorable final contest against Andy Roddick.

Federer was also runner-up at the Australian Open, where he lost in five sets to Nadal, and the US Open, where he also went down in five sets to Juan Martin del Potro, and helped his country retain its World Group status in Davis Cup.

"It is an honour for me to be named ITF World Champion for a fifth time. It was an incredible year for me both on and off the court," the 28-year-old Swiss star said.

"To win my first Roland Garros title, break the all-time Grand Slam record and regain the No. 1 ranking is amazing. It means a lot to me to finish the year again at the top."

Serena Williams becomes the women's World Champion for the first time since 2002 after producing her best performances at the biggest events.

The 28-year-old American captured two Grand Slam titles, at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, to improve her collection to 11 majors.

She went on to win the season-ending WTA Championships in Doha, sealing the No.1 ranking in the last event of the year.

Serena also took the doubles year award with sister Venus after taking their career total to ten Grand Slam titles. In so doing she joins Lindsay Davenport and Martina Hingis as the only players to become singles and doubles world champions in the same year.

American twins Bob and Mike Bryan were named as the men's doubles World Champions for the sixth time in seven years.

TOI

Schumacher to make F1 comeback with Mercedes

BERLIN: Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher said Wednesday he has signed a three-year deal to return to Formula One racing with Mercedes Michael Schumacher's factfile


Having retired in 2006, Schumacher, who turns 41 on January 3, will reportedly be paid seven million euros ($9.9 million) to be on the grid when the new season starts with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 14.

"After a three-year break, I have all the energy again that I was lacking," Schumacher told a teleconference with reporters after signing the contract late Tuesday.

"We are talking about a three-year deal. It's not just a one-off thing. We are talking about continuation."


Schumacher had been due to make a remarkable return last season for Ferrari -- for whom he acted as a consultant after retiring -- as a replacement for the injured Felipe Massa but was unable to because of a neck injury.

But the German said Wednesday the pain was behind him.

"My neck is no longer a problem," Schumacher said. "Over the summer it was too soon after the accident. Now everything has healed."

The pilot will return to Formula One having won 91 of his 250 Grand Prix races and started in Pole Position 68 times.

His presence on the grid will electrify the hugely popular sport as he goes up against the likes of reigning champion Jenson Button, 2008 winner Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari-bound Fernando Alonso, all men much younger than he.

Said Hamilton: "It's great to have Michael back in Formula One.

"He is a legend, a really nice guy, and I am happy for him he has again got an opportunity to do the best job in the world - race in Formula One.

"I used to watch Michael race when I was in the junior categories, and I always hoped I would be in Formula One while he was still around.

"I'm now really looking forward to seeing him on the track and back at the top.

Schumacher will be linking up with Mercedes's team principal Ross Brawn, who was the brains behind all of his world titles.

The German won the first of his World Drivers' Championship titles at Benetton in 1994 and was successful with the Italian team again in the 1995 season.

In 1996, he transferred to Ferrari where he proved virtually unbeatable between 2000 and 2004, winning five further world titles. There will be huge interest in the impact Schumacher and Brawn will have now for Mercedes.

It will be 1239 days after Schumacher's last Formula One race in Sao Paulo at the Brazilian Grand Prix in October 2006 and he joins Mercedes in an all-German racing team after compatriot Nico Rosberg, 24, signed up last month.

Schumacher's signature is a major coup for Mercedes, who raced under the Brawn GP banner last season, and a blow to his former stable.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo admitted last week he is distraught at the prospect of losing Schumacher to a rival team.

Di Montezemolo started working with Schumacher in 1996, when the German joined the Italian constructor from Benetton.

It was the Italian who first suggested to Schumacher he stand in for the injured Massa after the Brazilian's horrific crash at the Hungarian Grand Prix in July.

"It was me that rekindled his desire to race after Massa was injured in Hungary," the Ferrari chief had said.

Di Montezemolo admits he would have liked to see Schumacher back in a Ferrari but with Massa and Alonso already on their books for next season he simply could not offer the German a drive.

It remains to be seen how the German can cope with the inevitable march of Father Time, but his famous dedication to fitness and healthy living means that at 41 he has lost little of his punch.

Former world champion Niki Lauda for one believes that he could deliver.

"He can win again," said the Austrian, who himself twice made comebacks to win the world title. "He has more potential that all his younger rivals."

TOI

Vettori joins Queensland Bulls for T20 Big Bash

TAFF WRITER 15:18 HRS IST

Melbourne, Dec 23 (PTI) New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori today joined Queensland Bulls as its "guest player" for the 2009-10 KFC Twenty20 'Big Bash' competition.

Vettori today agreed to a short, two-match stint with the Bulls as their overseas player and will make his Queensland debut in the January 13 game against New South Wales at Homebush.

Vettori will also be available for the January 19 preliminary final, should Queensland finish either second or third.

It also means that Vettori could be available for the Champions League as well, should the Bulls qualify by finishing in the top two of the Big Bash tournament.

Bulls coach Trevor Barsby welcomed Vettori recruitment and said the Kiwi's experience would stand them in good stead.

Tight security at Eden Gardens for tomorrow's ODI

STAFF WRITER 18:54 HRS IST

Kolkata, Dec 23 (PTI) In view of the terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan in March this year, an unprecedented security cover has been put in place for their fourth ODI against India at the Eden Gardens here tomorrow.

Jawans of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), armed police personnel and commandos have been positioned around the Eden Gardens as a three-tier security ring has been thrown for both the teams lodged in a five-star hotel in the city.

"Security has been arranged in such a way that none will be able to barge into the ground and approach the players," Joint Commissioner of Police(HQ), Jawed Shamim said.

With Police Commissioner Gautam Mohan Chakraborty supervising the security arrangements, even mediapersons have been barred inside the hotel lobby under control of the security personnel.

Recall best gift this christmas: Hughes

Melbourne, Dec 21: For Phillip Hughes, recall to the Australian squad for the Boxing Day Test is the best Christmas present.

The left-hander was named in the 13-man squad as cover for captain Ricky Ponting, who is still recovering from an elbow injury sustained in the third Test against the West Indies.

Hughes, the New South Wales (NSW) opener, shone with the bat in the last two Sheffield Shield games which include a 122 against Victoria in Newcastle this week and 75 in the Blues’ first innings against Queensland at the Gabba. “I can’t wipe the smile off my face,” Hughes was quoted as saying by ABC Monday.“I found out today off (Cricket Australia operations manager) Michael Brown that I got the call and I was just pumped.“The smile’s been on the face all day. I can’t wait to get on the plane tomorrow.”

The 20-year-old has scored 388 runs at 43.11 in his return to the domestic four-day game this season after starting his Test career in exciting fashion in South Africa in February, when he became the youngest player in history to score a century in each innings of a Test.

India moves ahead with 2-1 lead

Cuttack, Dec 21: India defeated Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the third One-Day International of the five-match series at the Barabati Stadium here on Monday. Chasing 240, India made 242 for three in 42.2 overs after Sachin Tendulkar scored an unbeaten 96.

Earlier, All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja produced his career-best four-wicket haul as India bundled out Sri Lanka for a modest 239 at Barabati Stadium here today.

Electing to bat, Sri Lanka made a rousing start before they lost way in the middle overs as Indian slow bowlers brought themselves back into the game.

Jadeja claimed four for 32 — his best from 12 ODIs — while Ashish Nehra and Ishant Sharma took two wickets apiece to bring an end to Sri Lanka innings in 44.2 overs.

Upul Tharanga (73) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (41) gave Sri Lanka a perfect start going with a run rate in an excess of 10. Captain Kumar Sangakkara (46) then stood in a 100 run partnership with Tharanga as the Lankans looked set for a big score before the Indians came back strongly.

Estudiantes not looking to put on a show: Veron

Estudiantes not looking to put on a show: Veron

ABU DHABI, Dec 19: Estudiantes will play hard but fair and will not be looking to put on a show when they face Barcelona in the Club World Cup final, captain Juan Sebastian Veron and coach Alejandro Sabella said on Friday. The South American Libertadores Cup holders meet European champions Barcelona at Zayed Sports City (1600 GMT) looking to lift their second world title while the Spanish favourites want to win it for the first time to crown a glittering year. “We have always been the same, we have been treated as we are treated,” Veron told reporters. “It’s the nature of the club, for some reason they called us animals in England.” The team of 1968, in which Veron’s father Juan Ramon was the most skilled player, were accused of gamesmanship in the two-leg Intercontinental Cup victory over Manchester United when memories were fresh of the controversial 1966 World Cup quarter-final between England and Argentina at Wembley.

Mathews to miss rest of one-day series

Mathews to miss rest of one-day series

Bhubaneshwar, Dec 19: Sri Lanka all-rounder Angelo Mathews will miss the rest of the one-day series in India because of injury. The medium-pacer strained his right quadricep during his match-winning 37 not out in Friday’s second ODI, which the tourists won by three wickets to level the five-match series 1-1.

The recovery is expected to take up to four weeks, the team said on Saturday. The third match will be played in Cuttack on Monday. Uncapped all-rounder Thissara Perera was named as Mathews replacement on a tour that has already seen four bowlers return home injured. (IANS)

Woods wins golf writers award

Woods wins golf writers award

May move to France in search of privacy

HOUSTON, Dec 18: Tiger Woods was voted male player of the year by the Golf Writers Association of America on Thursday by an overwhelming margin over Steve Stricker, with most ballots returned after he became embroiled in a sex scandal.

It was the 10th time Woods has won the award in his 13 years as a pro.

LPGA Tour rookie Jiyai Shin was voted female player of the year over Lorena Ochoa, while Loren Roberts won the senior player award.

Sri Lanka clinch thriller to level series

Sri Lanka clinch thriller to level series

Nagpur, Dec 18: Sri Lanka beat India by 3 wickets in a thrilling match in Nagpur to level series on Friday.

Earlier, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni cracked his sixth hundred and strung together a breezy century stand with Suresh Raina to lift his side to an imposing 301 for seven in the second One-day International.

Dhoni had the proverbial cat’s luck as he was let off on four occasions by the butter-fingered Lanka fielders, thrice by his counterpart Kumar Sangakkara alone before he had reached 50, and the India captain punished them with his second successive hundred in ODIs at this venue, following his match-winning 124 against Australia on October 28.

The India captain, who fell to impressive debutant Suraj Randiv for 107 in 111 balls that included eight fours and two sixes, and Raina (68) stitched a stand of 126 in only 119 balls for the fifth wicket to lift India to the 300-plus score after the hosts were struggling just past the halfway stage. Coming together when their side were 132 for four in the 27th over, they helped their side with a run-a-ball partnership on a wicket that offered a lot of turn to the slow bowlers and not a bowler’s graveyard as was the case in the first ODI at Rajkot.

Saina named sportsperson of the year by Sports mag

STAFF WRITER 16:27 HRS IST

Mumbai, Dec 17 (PTI) Ace badminton player Saina Nehwal has been named the Sports Illustrated India's sportsperson of the year.

Other awards included Team of the Year - Indian Davis Cup Squad, International Sportsperson - Usain Bolt, Young player - Virat Kohli, Lifetime Achievement - late Rajsingh Dungarpur, Editor's Award for Excellence - Leander Paes,

The awards were declared last night at a function held here in a city hotel.

"The Sports Illustrated award are an attempt to provide the essential acknowledgement and recognition for the achievement of men and women who have excelled in their field," Sports Illustrated India Editor-in-Chief Sundeep Mishra said.

Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna were among the sportspersons present on the occassion.

Yuvraj may miss again, Sehwag to play 2nd ODI

STAFF WRITER 14:42 HRS IST

Nagpur, Dec 17 (PTI) Already nursing a finger injury, India's middle-order batsman Yuvraj Singh has been laid low by viral flu, which may rule him out of second one-dayer against Sri Lanka here tomorrow.

Yuvraj, who had also missed the opening match in Rajkot due to injury, skipped the practice session today and it is still not known if he has recovered from his finger injury.

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was unsure of Yuvraj's participation in tomorrow's clash but said opener Virender Sehwag was fit to play.

"Yuvraj Singh is having flu. He's having a viral infection. Till now it's flu. We did not ask him about his finger since he did not turn out on the field because of flu.

We have to see how difficult it is for him to field," he said.

Murali out of ODI series

Murali out of ODI series

Rajkot, Dec 16: Trailing 0-1 following the defeat in the series-opener, Sri Lanka were today dealt a massive blow after ace off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was ruled out of the remaining four cricket one-dayers against India due to a finger injury.

The Lankans have brought in two new off-spinners, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara and Suraj Randiv, in the squad.

“We have decided to rest Murali from the One-Day series to allow him to recover fully from the finger injury and to be available for future tournaments,” visiting team manager Brendon Kuruppu told PTI today.

“Murali injured his ring and middle fingers during the Mumbai Test (third and final match of the series held in the first week of December) and is going back home via Chennai,” Kuruppu informed.

Morgan predicts day/night Tests ‘within two years’

Morgan predicts day/night Tests ‘within two years’

LONDON, Dec 16: International Cricket Council president David Morgan said on Wednesday he would be “surprised if we don’t see day/night Test cricket within the next two years”.

While attendances for Test match cricket in England remain strong, crowds for five-day cricket in other leading nations have been in decline for several years. As part of plans to boost Test match crowds around the world, the ICC has been looking at staging five-day games in a day/night format - something that currently happens only for One-dayers and Twenty20 internationals.

Murali out of ODI series, two off-spinners called in

STAFF WRITER 10:43 HRS IST

Rajkot, Dec 16 (PTI) Trailing 0-1 following the defeat in the series-opener, Sri Lanka were today dealt a massive blow after ace off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was ruled out of the remaining four cricket one-dayers against India due to a finger injury.

The Lankans have brought in two new off-spinners, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara and Suraj Randiv, in the squad.

"We have decided to rest Murali from the One-Day series to allow him to recover fully from the finger injury and to be available for future tournaments," visiting team manager Brendon Kuruppu told PTI today.

"Murali injured his ring and middle fingers during the Mumbai Test (third and final match of the series held in the first week of December) and is going back home via Chennai," Kuruppu informed.

The world's leading wicket-taker in Tests missed the two Twenty20 Internationals that followed the Test series as well as the first ODI that India won here yesterday. .

India, Pakistan in same pool in hockey World Cup

New Delhi, Dec 15: Arch-rivals India and Pakistan were today clubbed in the same pool in the 2010 hockey World Cup scheduled to start in the capital from February 28. Apart from the 1975 champions India and four-time winner Pakistan, Pool B also has Australia, Spain, England and South Africa. Defending champion Germany is the top seed in Pool A and will meet Netherlands, Korea, New Zealand, Canada and Argentina in the group phase of the event. India won their maiden World Cup in 1975 in Kuala Lumpur, while Pakistan won the inaugural edition in Spain (1971) before winning back-to-back crown in Buenos Aires, Argentina (1978) and Mumbai (1982). The last time they won was in Sydney in 1994. Following the preliminary phase, the best two ranked teams of each pool would proceed to the semifinals, the International Hockey Federation said in a statement today. The match schedule for the World Cup will be released later this month, FIH said.

Pool A: Germany, the Netherlands, Korea, New Zealand, Canada and Argentina.

Pool B: Australia, Spain, England, Pakistan, India and South Africa. (PTI)

3 runs give India the smile

First ODI at Rajkot • Sloppy fielding continue to hunt India as Sri Lanka nearly chased down the highest score posted by the hosts

Rajkot, Dec 15: India posted their higest-ever one-day total of 414 but a rampaging Sri Lanka very nearly pulled off a sensational victory before losing their way in the fag end to give the hosts a narrow three-run victory in a high-scoring thriller here today.

After the Indians rattled up 414 of 7 built around Virender Sehwag’s 146, Tillkaratne Dilshan (160) and Kumar Sangakkara (90 off 43 balls) launched a ruthless assault but the Indian bowlers held their nerve to eventually scamper home and give the home team a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

The Madhav Rao Scindia stadium turned out to be a batting paradise with over 825 runs being scored and India would consider themselves a trifle lucky to escape with a win despite the sloppy fielding and the erratic bowling.

1st ODI: India make record 414 against Sri Lanka

RAJKOT: Virender Sehwag smashed 146 off 102 balls as India piled up their highest One-day total of 414/7 against Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Day in Pics: December 14 The swashbuckling opener hit 17 boundaries and six sixes after the tourists won the toss and elected to field in good batting conditions at the Madhavrao Scindia stadium.

The run riot on a ground with shorter boundaries enabled India to just surpass their previous One-day record of 413-5 against Bermuda in the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean.

It was also the fifth-highest score in One-day cricket overall, fuelled by a blazing start to the five-match series as Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar hammered 153 for the first wicket by the 20th over.

Tendulkar, the world's leading Test and One-day batsman, made 69 off 63 balls with 10 fours and a six before he was bowled by Dilhara Fernando.

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni continued the batting feast as he added 156 for the second wicket with Sehwag, before both batsmen fell in successive overs.

Dhoni hit seven boundaries and three sixes in 72 off 53 balls.

Sehwag top-edged an intended flick off left-arm seamer Chanaka Welegedara to Tillakaratne Dilshan at point in the 36th over.

Five balls later, Dhoni holed out in the covers off Fernando as Sri Lanka slowed the scoring with a flurry of wickets towards the end of the innings.

India, who were sailing along at 309-1, lost five wickets in the space of 43 runs to slip to 352-6 by the 44th over.

Young all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja hit an unbeaten 30 off 17 balls to help India record their biggest total.

Welegedara, Nuwan Kulasekara and Fernando finished with two wickets each.

India had won the preceding Test series 2-0 and both teams won one Twenty20 international each.

Teams:

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (C), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Praveen Kumar, Ashish Nehra and Virat Kohli.

Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (C), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dilhara Fernando, Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilina Kandamby, Nuwan Kulasekara, Angelo Mathews, Chanaka Welegedara, Thilan Samaraweera, Upul Tharanga

TOI

Hauritz’s Doosra is ready

Hauritz’s Doosra is ready

PERTH, Dec 14: Australian off-spinner Nathan Hauritz says he will use the ‘Doosra’ during the third Test against the West Indies, and is confident about bouncing back in Perth after putting in a lacklustre performance in Adelaide last week.

Hauritz bowled well in the first Test win in Brisbane taking 3-17 and 2-40, but only managed match figures of 2-179 in Adelaide.