Torres is best striker in world: Gerrard

Torres is best striker in world: Gerrard

London, Dec 30: Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has termed the club’s ace player Fernando Torres as the best striker in the world. Torres hit a 93rd-minute winner for his 50th Kop league goal in a new Liverpool record of just 72 games. “Everyone knows that when Fernando is on form he is the best in the world, the best bar none. He can score goals like this one, goals out of nothing even after he has experienced a quiet game. That’s what makes him so special. This is a massive result for us, a huge win. It could spark the run that drives us into the top four,” Gerrard said. Torres escaped the Villa defence just once but that was all he needed as he finished lethally from 12 yards, The Sun reports. “This will help our confidence so much,” Torres said. Liverpool were second-best at snowy Villa Park but victory moved them to within four points of the last Champions League place. (Agencies)

Kotla pitch unfit for international matches, says Harbhajan

Kotla pitch unfit for international matches, says Harbhajan

JALANDHAR, Dec 30: Endorsing his India teammate Gautam Gambhir’s view that the Ferozeshah Kotla pitch was not suitable for international matches, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on Wednesday said practice games should have been held on the wicket before the One-dayer against Sri Lanka.

Asked his comments on the pitch fiasco which led to the abandonment of the India-Sri Lanka fifth ODI on Sunday, Harbhajan said there was something wrong with the Kotla surface and it could have been dangerous for even Indian players if the home side had batted first.

Kotla ODI should have continued: Daljit Singh

Kotla ODI should have continued: Daljit

NEW DELHI, Dec 29: The Kotla pitch was by no means an unplayable surface and the fifth and final cricket One-dayer between India and Sri Lanka should have proceeded, according to former BCCI Pitches and Grounds Committee chairman Daljit Singh.

The Kotla pitch fiasco, which saw the ODI being called off after 23.3 overs due to a dangerous playing surface, had a direct bearing on the Daljit-led five-member committee which was sacked by the BCCI immediately after the incident.

But Daljit said he was amazed to see the match being abandoned, especially after Sri Lanka were already in the middle of their innings.

I do not want to be a one-hit wonder: Adlington

LONDON, Dec 27: Britain’s double Olympic swimming gold medallist Rebecca Adlington says she is determined to raise her game in 2010 after a slump in form following her Beijing triumphs.

“Beijing may turn out to be the best week of my entire life but I’d hate to think that everything went downhill from the age of 19,” she told the Mail on Sunday newspaper.

“I don’t want to be a one-hit wonder. I’m always going to remember 2009. I’ll always recall how it felt not to perform. “I’ll never forget those feelings. And I’m never going to let it happen again,” she added. Adlington won the 400 and 800 metre freestyle golds in Beijing in 2008 but came only third in the 400 and fourth in the 800 at the world championships in Rome in July.

The Briton had earlier spoken out against the latest, now-banned, bodysuits as “technological doping” and had refused to wear them.

“We’ll never know what difference the swimsuits made in Rome,” she said on Sunday. “What I do know is that I swam the 800 metres three seconds slower than in the previous year.

Final ODI abandoned

Delhi ground may be banned

NEW DELHI, Dec 27: The Ferozeshah Kotla stood disgraced on Sunday after the fifth and final India-Sri Lanka One-dayer was abandoned because of a dangerous pitch, which not only brought about an embarrassing end to the series but also put a question mark over its stature as an international venue.

The game was abandoned after 23.3 overs, leading to unruly scenes in the packed galleries with incensed spectators hurling water bottles and chair covers and damaging the stands to bring about a shameful end to the five-match series which India won by 3-1 margin.

The relaid track at Ferozeshah Kotla was a virtual minefield as the Sri Lankan batsmen, unlucky to be asked to bat first, fended for life as odd balls reared up alarmingly. The Sri Lankan innings was into its 24th over when Thilina Kandamby complained to the on-field umpires, which led to a mid-field conference involving Match Referee Alan Hurst, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his Lankan counterpart Kumar Sangakkara, coaches from both sides Gary Kirsten and Trevor Bayliss and the man in the eye of storm, Kotla curator Vijay Bahadur Mishra.

Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) officials, including its vice-president and former Test player Chetan Chauhan, offered another strip to Hurst but the match could not be saved.

Today’s incident was uncannily similar to the December 25, 1997 India-Sri Lanka ODI in Nehru Stadium, Indore which was called off after just three overs and the fiasco invited a brief suspension for the venue.

Sanath Jasuriya, who scored 31 on Sunday, is the only player to feature in both the games.

Rashid, Bajaj move ahead

Kolkata, Dec 25: Rashid Khan and Rahul Bajaj stayed on course for a final-round showdown with both of them winning their quarter-final ties at the LG Goodricke Eastern India Amateur Golf Championship at the par-72 Royal Calcutta Golf Club here today. Rashid won his tie against Karan Vasudeva 4 and 2, while Rahul Bajaj defeated Pawan Kumar 4 and 3. In the showdown between the Kolkata boys, Samaresh Sardar emerged victorious over Mohd. Sanjib to set up a semifinal clash against Rashid while Raja Sardar prevailed over SK Pappu to progress to the last four stage. Earlier in the day, it looked like an upset was on the cards as Karan Vasudeva, still seeking his maiden win on the LG Amateur Tour, dominated the early stages of the match against Rashid. The lower-ranked Vasudeva went three up after just eight holes and seemed in control close to the halfway stage. (PTI)

It’s great to win series at Eden: Sehwag

Kolkata, Dec 25: A jubilant Indian stand-in captain Virender Sehwag on Thursday night praised Virat Kohli and other youngsters in the team and said he was happy to finish the series in Kolkata.

“This team has lot of bench-strength. We did not have Yuvraj Singh and M S Dhoni in the team. It’s a good sign for India that the youngsters are playing well. Virat Kohli proved his worth,” he said after India successfully chased an imposing Sri Lankan total of 315/6 to win with seven wickets and 11 balls in hand at the Eden Gardens.

“We wanted to finish the game in Kolkata because here we had a good wicket to bat on. We don’t know what kind of wicket we will get in Delhi,” Sehwag said after clinching the five match series against Sri lanka.

Sehwag, who led the team at Cuttack and Kolkata following the two match ban slapped on regular captain M S Dhoni for slow over rate, said now the team will not be under any pressure in the fifth and last match in Delhi.

He added that faced with such a huge total, the Indian did not want to lose wickets.

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.