London, Feb 28: Cricket maestro Sachin Tendulkar will be the latest sporting great to be featured at the internationally-renowned Madame Tussauds in London when a new wax figure of the Mumbai-born batsman joins the A-list line up in April. Tendulkar follows in the famous footsteps of Bollywood greats Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan and will join other cricket legends Brain Lara and Shane Warne to become the very first Indian sports personality to be portrayed, the waxworks museum said in a statement on Friday.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Bopara’s maiden Test century keeps England on top
Bopara’s maiden Test century keeps England on top
Bridgetown (Barbados), Feb 28: Ravi Bopara collected his maiden Test hundred to help bat England to a formidable first innings total in the fourth Test against West Indies on Friday.Bopara followed up his blistering hundred in a two-day, warm-up match last weekend with an equally purposeful 104 which allowed England to declare their first innings on 600 for six, 45 minutes after tea on the second day at Kensington Oval.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Mills, Butler back in Kiwi One-Day squad
Wellington: Fast bowler Ian Buttler's impressive showing in the just-concluded Twenty20 Internationals has earned him a place in the New Zealand One-Day team after a hiatus of five years for the first three games of the five-match series against India starting March 3.
Apart from Buttler, Kyle Mills, who had strained his Achilles tendon, also made a comeback to the ODI squad after a two-week injury lay-off to augment an already lethal Kiwi pace battery, led by Iain O'Brien, Butler and Tim Southee.
The Black Caps have more seam bowling options in Jesse Ryder and Jacob Oram, who missed the Chappell-Hadlee Series earlier this month because of injury but played the two Twenty20 matches against India. They returned in place of Brendon Diamanti and Peter Fulton.
However, Nathan McCullum and Ewen Thompson failed to make the move up to New Zealand's ODI team. Offspinner Jeetan Patel was also left out of the squad which has a lone regular spinner in skipper Daniel Vettori.
Assessing that Indian batsmen are sound players of spin, New Zealand's chief selector Glenn Turner said the squad was a strong one, which reflected the sizeable pool of players in consistent good form at international and domestic levels.
"Knowing the way the Indians play spin bowling in limited overs cricket, we think the attack will benefit from having an extra seamer," Turner said.
"We're fortunate that Kyle Mills is back to fitness after injury. His recent form with the new ball in limited overs has been outstanding," he added.
Turner made it clear that the squad had been named only for the first three matches, so as to give other players a chance to find their form in the next round of the domestic championship.
The ODIs will be be played at Napier (March 3), Wellington (March 6), Christchurch (March 8), Hamilton (March 11) and Auckland (March 14).
The Team: Daniel Vettori (captain), Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Iain O'Brien, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor.
Source:http://cricketnext.in.com/news/mills-butler-back-in-kiwi-oneday-squad/38665-13.html
Apart from Buttler, Kyle Mills, who had strained his Achilles tendon, also made a comeback to the ODI squad after a two-week injury lay-off to augment an already lethal Kiwi pace battery, led by Iain O'Brien, Butler and Tim Southee.
The Black Caps have more seam bowling options in Jesse Ryder and Jacob Oram, who missed the Chappell-Hadlee Series earlier this month because of injury but played the two Twenty20 matches against India. They returned in place of Brendon Diamanti and Peter Fulton.
However, Nathan McCullum and Ewen Thompson failed to make the move up to New Zealand's ODI team. Offspinner Jeetan Patel was also left out of the squad which has a lone regular spinner in skipper Daniel Vettori.
Assessing that Indian batsmen are sound players of spin, New Zealand's chief selector Glenn Turner said the squad was a strong one, which reflected the sizeable pool of players in consistent good form at international and domestic levels.
"Knowing the way the Indians play spin bowling in limited overs cricket, we think the attack will benefit from having an extra seamer," Turner said.
"We're fortunate that Kyle Mills is back to fitness after injury. His recent form with the new ball in limited overs has been outstanding," he added.
Turner made it clear that the squad had been named only for the first three matches, so as to give other players a chance to find their form in the next round of the domestic championship.
The ODIs will be be played at Napier (March 3), Wellington (March 6), Christchurch (March 8), Hamilton (March 11) and Auckland (March 14).
The Team: Daniel Vettori (captain), Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Iain O'Brien, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor.
Source:http://cricketnext.in.com/news/mills-butler-back-in-kiwi-oneday-squad/38665-13.html
Mills, Butler back in Kiwi One-Day squad
Wellington: Fast bowler Ian Buttler's impressive showing in the just-concluded Twenty20 Internationals has earned him a place in the New Zealand One-Day team after a hiatus of five years for the first three games of the five-match series against India starting March 3.
Apart from Buttler, Kyle Mills, who had strained his Achilles tendon, also made a comeback to the ODI squad after a two-week injury lay-off to augment an already lethal Kiwi pace battery, led by Iain O'Brien, Butler and Tim Southee.
The Black Caps have more seam bowling options in Jesse Ryder and Jacob Oram, who missed the Chappell-Hadlee Series earlier this month because of injury but played the two Twenty20 matches against India. They returned in place of Brendon Diamanti and Peter Fulton.
However, Nathan McCullum and Ewen Thompson failed to make the move up to New Zealand's ODI team. Offspinner Jeetan Patel was also left out of the squad which has a lone regular spinner in skipper Daniel Vettori.
Assessing that Indian batsmen are sound players of spin, New Zealand's chief selector Glenn Turner said the squad was a strong one, which reflected the sizeable pool of players in consistent good form at international and domestic levels.
"Knowing the way the Indians play spin bowling in limited overs cricket, we think the attack will benefit from having an extra seamer," Turner said.
"We're fortunate that Kyle Mills is back to fitness after injury. His recent form with the new ball in limited overs has been outstanding," he added.
Turner made it clear that the squad had been named only for the first three matches, so as to give other players a chance to find their form in the next round of the domestic championship.
The ODIs will be be played at Napier (March 3), Wellington (March 6), Christchurch (March 8), Hamilton (March 11) and Auckland (March 14).
The Team: Daniel Vettori (captain), Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Iain O'Brien, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor.
Source:http://cricketnext.in.com/news/mills-butler-back-in-kiwi-oneday-squad/38665-13.html
Apart from Buttler, Kyle Mills, who had strained his Achilles tendon, also made a comeback to the ODI squad after a two-week injury lay-off to augment an already lethal Kiwi pace battery, led by Iain O'Brien, Butler and Tim Southee.
The Black Caps have more seam bowling options in Jesse Ryder and Jacob Oram, who missed the Chappell-Hadlee Series earlier this month because of injury but played the two Twenty20 matches against India. They returned in place of Brendon Diamanti and Peter Fulton.
However, Nathan McCullum and Ewen Thompson failed to make the move up to New Zealand's ODI team. Offspinner Jeetan Patel was also left out of the squad which has a lone regular spinner in skipper Daniel Vettori.
Assessing that Indian batsmen are sound players of spin, New Zealand's chief selector Glenn Turner said the squad was a strong one, which reflected the sizeable pool of players in consistent good form at international and domestic levels.
"Knowing the way the Indians play spin bowling in limited overs cricket, we think the attack will benefit from having an extra seamer," Turner said.
"We're fortunate that Kyle Mills is back to fitness after injury. His recent form with the new ball in limited overs has been outstanding," he added.
Turner made it clear that the squad had been named only for the first three matches, so as to give other players a chance to find their form in the next round of the domestic championship.
The ODIs will be be played at Napier (March 3), Wellington (March 6), Christchurch (March 8), Hamilton (March 11) and Auckland (March 14).
The Team: Daniel Vettori (captain), Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Iain O'Brien, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor.
Source:http://cricketnext.in.com/news/mills-butler-back-in-kiwi-oneday-squad/38665-13.html
Dates for Pak-Aus ODI series revised again
LAHORE: The itinerary of the Australia-Pakistan One-Day International series in United Arab Emirates has been revised again.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that the series, which is to be played at a neutral venue, United Arab Emirates (UAE), will be played from April 22 to May 7.
"Now the series will be played from April 22 to May 7 as we have pushed backed the date of the first match by two days," PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said.
Butt said the changes were made as the Australian team management had asked for some breather after its South African tour.
According to the new itinerary, the Kangaroos will be arriving in the UAE on April 18. The first two matches will be played in Dubai on April 22 and 24.
Then teams will move to Abu Dhabi where the remaining three matches of the series will be played on April 27, May 1 and 3 respectively. Pakistan will then take on the Aussies in a Twenty-20 game on May 7, The Nation reports.
The PCB was compelled to shift the series to a neutral venue after the Australian government refused to send its team to Pakistan citing security concerns. Australia last toured Pakistan in 1998.
Source:http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Dates-for-Pak-Aus-ODI-series-revised-again/articleshow/4204098.cms
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that the series, which is to be played at a neutral venue, United Arab Emirates (UAE), will be played from April 22 to May 7.
"Now the series will be played from April 22 to May 7 as we have pushed backed the date of the first match by two days," PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said.
Butt said the changes were made as the Australian team management had asked for some breather after its South African tour.
According to the new itinerary, the Kangaroos will be arriving in the UAE on April 18. The first two matches will be played in Dubai on April 22 and 24.
Then teams will move to Abu Dhabi where the remaining three matches of the series will be played on April 27, May 1 and 3 respectively. Pakistan will then take on the Aussies in a Twenty-20 game on May 7, The Nation reports.
The PCB was compelled to shift the series to a neutral venue after the Australian government refused to send its team to Pakistan citing security concerns. Australia last toured Pakistan in 1998.
Source:http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Dates-for-Pak-Aus-ODI-series-revised-again/articleshow/4204098.cms
Playing for England more important than IPL: Flintoff
LONDON: After a nagging hip injury forced him to return home mid-way from the Test series against the West Indies, England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff hinted he may skip the lucrative Indian Premier League to stay fit to take on the Australians in the Ashes series.
Flintoff, who was bagged by IPL's Chennai Super Kings side for a record $1.55 million, has insisted that representing England is of utmost importance to him and is currently eying the forthcoming ODI series against the West Indies to stage a comeback.
"It seems that, at the minute, everybody is going on about the IPL. It's a hot topic. But I want to play for England in this upcoming One-day series.
"The IPL is still a few weeks away and my goal is to play for England and, after that, the IPL will take care of itself. It's something I want to play in, but my ultimate goal is playing for England," the 31-year-old all-rounder was quoted as saying in the 'Daily Telegraph'.
Flintoff will now undergo a rehabilitation programme and is scheduled to reunite with the team on March 10, if fitness permits.
"I just want to get home, do my work and then get back out here as soon as I can. When you're injured, you're always a little bit flat and you don't know where to put yourself in the dressing-room. Everyone you bump into is asking you about your injury," Flintoff said.
The all-rounder revealed his hip injury first came to light during the first Test in Jamaica.
"I felt a bit of a niggle there. but it was more tightness than anything else. I was then in discomfort all the way through the (third) Test in Antigua.
"Whether I made it worse, I'm not quite sure. It was very frustrating, though. For the first time in a long time,
Soruce:http://ipl.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4204625.cms
Flintoff, who was bagged by IPL's Chennai Super Kings side for a record $1.55 million, has insisted that representing England is of utmost importance to him and is currently eying the forthcoming ODI series against the West Indies to stage a comeback.
"It seems that, at the minute, everybody is going on about the IPL. It's a hot topic. But I want to play for England in this upcoming One-day series.
"The IPL is still a few weeks away and my goal is to play for England and, after that, the IPL will take care of itself. It's something I want to play in, but my ultimate goal is playing for England," the 31-year-old all-rounder was quoted as saying in the 'Daily Telegraph'.
Flintoff will now undergo a rehabilitation programme and is scheduled to reunite with the team on March 10, if fitness permits.
"I just want to get home, do my work and then get back out here as soon as I can. When you're injured, you're always a little bit flat and you don't know where to put yourself in the dressing-room. Everyone you bump into is asking you about your injury," Flintoff said.
The all-rounder revealed his hip injury first came to light during the first Test in Jamaica.
"I felt a bit of a niggle there. but it was more tightness than anything else. I was then in discomfort all the way through the (third) Test in Antigua.
"Whether I made it worse, I'm not quite sure. It was very frustrating, though. For the first time in a long time,
Soruce:http://ipl.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4204625.cms
Ishant likely to miss first ODI due to injury
WELLINGTON: India's pace sensation Ishant Sharma is likely to miss the first One-Day International against New Zealand due to injury.
The sinewy fast bowler had hurt his shoulder while fielding in the second Twenty20 international against New Zealand at the Westpac Stadium last night.
An MRI scan carried out on his shoulder on Saturday revealed a bruise.
The impact of falling on the ball is said to have aggravated an old injury.
"The MRI scan has disclosed that there is a bruise. We will watch him over the next two days. But it is likely that Ishant may miss the first ODI against New Zealand," said administrative manager Niranjan Shah, who is accompanying the Indian side.
Source:http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Ishant-likely-to-miss-first-ODI-due-to-injury/articleshow/4204422.cms
The sinewy fast bowler had hurt his shoulder while fielding in the second Twenty20 international against New Zealand at the Westpac Stadium last night.
An MRI scan carried out on his shoulder on Saturday revealed a bruise.
The impact of falling on the ball is said to have aggravated an old injury.
"The MRI scan has disclosed that there is a bruise. We will watch him over the next two days. But it is likely that Ishant may miss the first ODI against New Zealand," said administrative manager Niranjan Shah, who is accompanying the Indian side.
Source:http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Ishant-likely-to-miss-first-ODI-due-to-injury/articleshow/4204422.cms
Bopanna-Niemenin in Delray Beach quarters
NEW DELHI: Rohan Bopanna and Jarrko Niemenin advanced to the quarter-finals of the $5,00,000 Delray Beach International Tennis Championships in the United States after a hard fought 6-4, 7-5 win against Paul Capdeville and Evgeny Korolev.
The unseeded Indo-Finnish pair took a little over one hour to carve out the victory and set up a clash against fourth seeded American Eric Butorac and Brazilian Bruno Soares.
Bopanna and Niemenin saved all six breakpoints in the first set apart from converting one of the four chances that came their way.
In the second set, they dropped their serve twice but were successful in breaking their rivals thrice to seal the issue.
Source:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/?frm_TOIHome_top
The unseeded Indo-Finnish pair took a little over one hour to carve out the victory and set up a clash against fourth seeded American Eric Butorac and Brazilian Bruno Soares.
Bopanna and Niemenin saved all six breakpoints in the first set apart from converting one of the four chances that came their way.
In the second set, they dropped their serve twice but were successful in breaking their rivals thrice to seal the issue.
Source:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/?frm_TOIHome_top
Anand held by Grischuk at Linares Chess
LINARES: (Spain): World champion Viswanathan Anand played out a draw with Russian Alexander Grischuk to remain in joint fourth spot after the end of the seventh round of Magistral Ciudad de Linares Chess tournament on Friday.
At the half way stage of the eight-players double round robin tournament, the Indian ace has 3.5 points.
Grischuik remained atop the tables on five points out of a possible seven and remained a full point clear of Norwegian prodigy Magnus Carlsen and Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine who scored a win over Levon Aronian of Armenia.
Anand shares the fourth spot with Aronian whose double defeat in last two rounds have severely dented his chances in the tournament.
The sixth spot is held by Lenier Dominguez of Cuba while Wang Yue of China and Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan share the seventh spot on 2.5 points each.
Grischuk held on to his own against Anand whose experiment with the queen pawn opening continued.
After coming out with a minor surprise on move three when he decided to avoid main lines of Grunfeld defense, Anand settled to play the Samisch attack against the King's Indian defense.
Interestingly, the King's Indian has been enjoying immense success in this tournament and this game was another attestation to that.
Anand tried to make a foray on the king side but the Russian was quite up to the task in finding the right manouvres. After Anand castled on the king side it was clear that the game was headed towards a draw.
The peace was signed in 32 moves. Ivanchuk scored a thrilling victory over Aronian in another King's Indian of the day. Aronian went for a topical structure but found Ivanchuk well-armed in all departments of the game.
The complexities turned in favour of Ivanchuk after an erroneous plan by the Armenian in the middle game and there were no chances to recover as the game progressed.
Source:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Anand-held-by-Grischuk-at-Linares-Chess/articleshow/4198870.cms
At the half way stage of the eight-players double round robin tournament, the Indian ace has 3.5 points.
Grischuik remained atop the tables on five points out of a possible seven and remained a full point clear of Norwegian prodigy Magnus Carlsen and Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine who scored a win over Levon Aronian of Armenia.
Anand shares the fourth spot with Aronian whose double defeat in last two rounds have severely dented his chances in the tournament.
The sixth spot is held by Lenier Dominguez of Cuba while Wang Yue of China and Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan share the seventh spot on 2.5 points each.
Grischuk held on to his own against Anand whose experiment with the queen pawn opening continued.
After coming out with a minor surprise on move three when he decided to avoid main lines of Grunfeld defense, Anand settled to play the Samisch attack against the King's Indian defense.
Interestingly, the King's Indian has been enjoying immense success in this tournament and this game was another attestation to that.
Anand tried to make a foray on the king side but the Russian was quite up to the task in finding the right manouvres. After Anand castled on the king side it was clear that the game was headed towards a draw.
The peace was signed in 32 moves. Ivanchuk scored a thrilling victory over Aronian in another King's Indian of the day. Aronian went for a topical structure but found Ivanchuk well-armed in all departments of the game.
The complexities turned in favour of Ivanchuk after an erroneous plan by the Armenian in the middle game and there were no chances to recover as the game progressed.
Source:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Anand-held-by-Grischuk-at-Linares-Chess/articleshow/4198870.cms
Djokovic beats Simon to reach Dubai final
DUBAI: Novak Djokovic reached his first final of the season when he beat third-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 at the Dubai Championships on Friday.
Djokovic repeated his semi-final victory over Simon at the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai last November, where he went on to claim the title. The top-seeded Serb now faces either fourth-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer or unseeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet.
"I think I fought my way through in the match, really believed till the end, and mentally this is a very important win for me," Djokovic said. "If I want to stay on top of the men's game, I have to win these matches, because Simon is certainly one of the best players in the world. He plays a very unique game. He's very solid from all sides, and playing with a very small number of unforced errors, which...when you see him, you don't think that physically he's that strong and he has great endurance."
It took Djokovic two hours 44-minutes to edge his opponent as both players struggled to produce their best tennis in the afternoon heat. Djokovic was especially unstable during the first set and into the second as he failed to find any consistency.
Simon, though, was under early pressure as he fought off two break points at 1-1 before breaking to lead 4-2 when Djokovic made a forehand error. Both players held break point opportunities in the second set, before Djokovic broke in the final game with a forehand winner.
Simon then made a bright start to the final set, breaking for 1-0 and conceding just two points in the first two games. But Djokovic levelled at 3-3 when Simon made a backhand error, and the Frenchman had to fight off another break point before holding for 4-4.
Djokovic then held for 6-5 on his third game point, and broke for the match after Simon set up match point by netting a low forehand volley. The relieved Serbian closed out the match with a smash.
"I was one set up, I was playing far better than him, because he made so many mistakes from the baseline," said the frustrated Simon. "I had enough chances to win this match, and finally I lost it, so that's why it is a very bad match."
Soruce:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Djokovic-beats-Simon-to-reach-Dubai-final/articleshow/4201906.cms
Djokovic repeated his semi-final victory over Simon at the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai last November, where he went on to claim the title. The top-seeded Serb now faces either fourth-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer or unseeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet.
"I think I fought my way through in the match, really believed till the end, and mentally this is a very important win for me," Djokovic said. "If I want to stay on top of the men's game, I have to win these matches, because Simon is certainly one of the best players in the world. He plays a very unique game. He's very solid from all sides, and playing with a very small number of unforced errors, which...when you see him, you don't think that physically he's that strong and he has great endurance."
It took Djokovic two hours 44-minutes to edge his opponent as both players struggled to produce their best tennis in the afternoon heat. Djokovic was especially unstable during the first set and into the second as he failed to find any consistency.
Simon, though, was under early pressure as he fought off two break points at 1-1 before breaking to lead 4-2 when Djokovic made a forehand error. Both players held break point opportunities in the second set, before Djokovic broke in the final game with a forehand winner.
Simon then made a bright start to the final set, breaking for 1-0 and conceding just two points in the first two games. But Djokovic levelled at 3-3 when Simon made a backhand error, and the Frenchman had to fight off another break point before holding for 4-4.
Djokovic then held for 6-5 on his third game point, and broke for the match after Simon set up match point by netting a low forehand volley. The relieved Serbian closed out the match with a smash.
"I was one set up, I was playing far better than him, because he made so many mistakes from the baseline," said the frustrated Simon. "I had enough chances to win this match, and finally I lost it, so that's why it is a very bad match."
Soruce:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Djokovic-beats-Simon-to-reach-Dubai-final/articleshow/4201906.cms
McIlroy stays on winning track in Arizona desert
MARANA (Arizona): British teenager Rory McIlroy underlined his credentials as one of the best players in the world by easing into the quarter-finals of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship on Friday.
The 19-year-old from Holywood, Northern Ireland, competing in his first tournament as a professional on US soil, outclassed South African Tim Clark 4&3 in the third round at Dove Mountain's Ritz-Carlton Golf Club.
McIlroy birdied four of the first eight holes to take charge against the player who stunned world number one and three-times champion Tiger Woods in the previous round.
"It's fantastic," the long-hitting Northern Irishman told reporters after booking his place in the last eight against 2006 champion Geoff Ogilvy of Australia.
"Tim didn't play his best golf today. Understandably he was probably a little flat after all that happened yesterday. I came out and got off to quite a fast start, got an early lead and I was able to hang on and get the win."
McIlroy, who dominated a world-class field to win his maiden European Tour title at this month's Dubai Desert Classic, was in two minds as to whether he would have preferred to have taken on Woods in the third round.
"Yes and no," he said. "I probably would have found it very difficult to play him with him being a hero of mine for the past 10 years.
OWN GAME
"So it would have been difficult but you've got to just go out there and try and play your own game. You can't control what the other guy does, so yeah.
"It's match play, it's very fickle and you never know what can happen," McIlroy added, referring to Clark's surprise 4&2 win against Woods on Thursday.
"Tim caused a bit of an upset yesterday and I was lucky enough to play well enough today to win."
McIlroy has swiftly risen to 17th in the world rankings since turning professional in 2007, well ahead of his initial target.
"I don't want to say I always expected to get to this point but I always hoped that I would," he said. "But I am surprised how quickly I've done it.
"In the world rankings, one win can jump you up quite a few spots. I've just got to keep going with it, keep playing and try to get a few more wins. If you can do that, then the rankings and everything else will take care of itself."
Soruce:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/McIlroy-stays-on-winning-track-in-Arizona-desert/articleshow/4203629.cms
The 19-year-old from Holywood, Northern Ireland, competing in his first tournament as a professional on US soil, outclassed South African Tim Clark 4&3 in the third round at Dove Mountain's Ritz-Carlton Golf Club.
McIlroy birdied four of the first eight holes to take charge against the player who stunned world number one and three-times champion Tiger Woods in the previous round.
"It's fantastic," the long-hitting Northern Irishman told reporters after booking his place in the last eight against 2006 champion Geoff Ogilvy of Australia.
"Tim didn't play his best golf today. Understandably he was probably a little flat after all that happened yesterday. I came out and got off to quite a fast start, got an early lead and I was able to hang on and get the win."
McIlroy, who dominated a world-class field to win his maiden European Tour title at this month's Dubai Desert Classic, was in two minds as to whether he would have preferred to have taken on Woods in the third round.
"Yes and no," he said. "I probably would have found it very difficult to play him with him being a hero of mine for the past 10 years.
OWN GAME
"So it would have been difficult but you've got to just go out there and try and play your own game. You can't control what the other guy does, so yeah.
"It's match play, it's very fickle and you never know what can happen," McIlroy added, referring to Clark's surprise 4&2 win against Woods on Thursday.
"Tim caused a bit of an upset yesterday and I was lucky enough to play well enough today to win."
McIlroy has swiftly risen to 17th in the world rankings since turning professional in 2007, well ahead of his initial target.
"I don't want to say I always expected to get to this point but I always hoped that I would," he said. "But I am surprised how quickly I've done it.
"In the world rankings, one win can jump you up quite a few spots. I've just got to keep going with it, keep playing and try to get a few more wins. If you can do that, then the rankings and everything else will take care of itself."
Soruce:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/McIlroy-stays-on-winning-track-in-Arizona-desert/articleshow/4203629.cms
Singles are the priority for me: Sania
MUMBAI: Asserting that singles matches were her priority, Indian tennis star Sania Mirza on Friday said that she may miss out some doubles matches in order to prolong her singles career.
"Singles are the priority for me. Since I'm young enough I will try to prolong my singles career till my body holds up", said Sania who was here for a promotional event for Cadbury's.
"I've been playing quite well in singles so I'm trying to balance it out between singles and doubles matches. I might as well skip a few doubles' events here and there", she said.
The 22-year-old Hyderabadi, who won the mixed doubles crown at the Australian Open with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi in January this year and made it to the singles final of the Pattaya Open earlier this month, said she was happy with the way her career was shaping up and has set herself new goals.
Sania, who had to withdraw from the Fed Cup earlier this month due to a wrist injury, said she was happy with her fitness after her injury woes in 2008.
"I have been practising in Hyderabad for the past one week and my wrist has held up very well. We do have a few niggles here and there but overall I'm happy with my fitness," she said.
Sania, who will head to Los Angeles next week to train at the Gil Reyes' training centre for one week, said she was excited about the training stint.
"Gil is probably the best trainer in the world having trained players like (Andre) Agassi and (Fernando) Verdasco. I'm hopeful of a great experience and am going there with expectations of working very hard," she said.
"One week is too short a time but this is just the beginning. I might consider having stints there before crucial tournaments," she added.
Asked about her views on the new anti-doping rules adopted by the ATP, Sania, who has been ranked 75th in the latest WTA rankings, admitted having little knowledge about the issue but said she had no reservations on the same.
On the current tennis situation in the country, she said with the arrival of new players like Yuki Bhambri and Somdev Devvarman it was at its "healthiest best" today.
"Yuki is our biggest talent right now. Let's hope he can make it a successful transition from junior to senior tennis. With Somdev also doing well, Indian tennis is at its healthiest best today," Sania said.
Source:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Singles-are-the-priority-for-me-Sania/articleshow/4202132.cms
"Singles are the priority for me. Since I'm young enough I will try to prolong my singles career till my body holds up", said Sania who was here for a promotional event for Cadbury's.
"I've been playing quite well in singles so I'm trying to balance it out between singles and doubles matches. I might as well skip a few doubles' events here and there", she said.
The 22-year-old Hyderabadi, who won the mixed doubles crown at the Australian Open with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi in January this year and made it to the singles final of the Pattaya Open earlier this month, said she was happy with the way her career was shaping up and has set herself new goals.
Sania, who had to withdraw from the Fed Cup earlier this month due to a wrist injury, said she was happy with her fitness after her injury woes in 2008.
"I have been practising in Hyderabad for the past one week and my wrist has held up very well. We do have a few niggles here and there but overall I'm happy with my fitness," she said.
Sania, who will head to Los Angeles next week to train at the Gil Reyes' training centre for one week, said she was excited about the training stint.
"Gil is probably the best trainer in the world having trained players like (Andre) Agassi and (Fernando) Verdasco. I'm hopeful of a great experience and am going there with expectations of working very hard," she said.
"One week is too short a time but this is just the beginning. I might consider having stints there before crucial tournaments," she added.
Asked about her views on the new anti-doping rules adopted by the ATP, Sania, who has been ranked 75th in the latest WTA rankings, admitted having little knowledge about the issue but said she had no reservations on the same.
On the current tennis situation in the country, she said with the arrival of new players like Yuki Bhambri and Somdev Devvarman it was at its "healthiest best" today.
"Yuki is our biggest talent right now. Let's hope he can make it a successful transition from junior to senior tennis. With Somdev also doing well, Indian tennis is at its healthiest best today," Sania said.
Source:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Singles-are-the-priority-for-me-Sania/articleshow/4202132.cms
Friday, February 27, 2009
Younis Khan replaces Chanderpaul as No. 1 Test batsman
DUBAI: Pakistan captain Younis Khan's triple hundred in the drawn Karachi Test against Sri Lanka catapulted him to the top of the ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen which has only one Indian, Gautam Gambhir, in the top 10.
Younis batted for nearly 13 hours in Karachi to become just the third Pakistan player in history to get past the 300-run mark in a single Test innings after Hanif Mohammad (337 vs West Indies at Bridgetown in 1958) and Inzamam-ul-Haq (329 vs New Zealand at Lahore in 2002).
Younis was the only real mover in the top 20 of the rankings although Mahela Jayawardena's double hundred in the same match means he stays in fourth position as Australia's Michael Clarke drops two places to fifth position.
Having been knocked off his number-one perch, West Indies' Shivnarine Chanderpaul is now in second spot with Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka in third.
Younis will have to continue to score heavily to maintain his stay at the top because he has a very slender one-point lead at the top with almost every player in the top 10.
Gambhir's opportunity to improve his position will come when the Test series against New Zealand gets underway next month.
Delhi teammate Virender Sehwag is placed 11th, while Sachin Tendulkar share the 17th spot with compatriot VVS Laxman.
In the Test bowlers' chart, Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan is still top of the heap but the gap between him and South Africa's Dale Steyn has now been cut from 43 ratings points to just 17.
With Steyn just starting a Test series against Australia, there is every chance the Protea could nudge in front of Murali before too long.
Sri Lanka's other big-name spinner Ajantha Mendis also fared badly in the match as he finished with the figures of 59-14-157-1. As a result, he has slipped five places, out of the top 20 to joint-23rd position, and is now level with South Africa's left-arm slow bowler Paul Harris.
Harbhajan Singh remained India's top Test bowler at the eighth place, while Zaheer Khan is ranked 12th.
Source:http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Younis-replaces-Chanderpaul-as-No-1/articleshow/4194725.cms
Younis batted for nearly 13 hours in Karachi to become just the third Pakistan player in history to get past the 300-run mark in a single Test innings after Hanif Mohammad (337 vs West Indies at Bridgetown in 1958) and Inzamam-ul-Haq (329 vs New Zealand at Lahore in 2002).
Younis was the only real mover in the top 20 of the rankings although Mahela Jayawardena's double hundred in the same match means he stays in fourth position as Australia's Michael Clarke drops two places to fifth position.
Having been knocked off his number-one perch, West Indies' Shivnarine Chanderpaul is now in second spot with Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka in third.
Younis will have to continue to score heavily to maintain his stay at the top because he has a very slender one-point lead at the top with almost every player in the top 10.
Gambhir's opportunity to improve his position will come when the Test series against New Zealand gets underway next month.
Delhi teammate Virender Sehwag is placed 11th, while Sachin Tendulkar share the 17th spot with compatriot VVS Laxman.
In the Test bowlers' chart, Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan is still top of the heap but the gap between him and South Africa's Dale Steyn has now been cut from 43 ratings points to just 17.
With Steyn just starting a Test series against Australia, there is every chance the Protea could nudge in front of Murali before too long.
Sri Lanka's other big-name spinner Ajantha Mendis also fared badly in the match as he finished with the figures of 59-14-157-1. As a result, he has slipped five places, out of the top 20 to joint-23rd position, and is now level with South Africa's left-arm slow bowler Paul Harris.
Harbhajan Singh remained India's top Test bowler at the eighth place, while Zaheer Khan is ranked 12th.
Source:http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Younis-replaces-Chanderpaul-as-No-1/articleshow/4194725.cms
Younis Khan replaces Chanderpaul as No. 1 Test batsman
DUBAI: Pakistan captain Younis Khan's triple hundred in the drawn Karachi Test against Sri Lanka catapulted him to the top of the ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen which has only one Indian, Gautam Gambhir, in the top 10.
Younis batted for nearly 13 hours in Karachi to become just the third Pakistan player in history to get past the 300-run mark in a single Test innings after Hanif Mohammad (337 vs West Indies at Bridgetown in 1958) and Inzamam-ul-Haq (329 vs New Zealand at Lahore in 2002).
Younis was the only real mover in the top 20 of the rankings although Mahela Jayawardena's double hundred in the same match means he stays in fourth position as Australia's Michael Clarke drops two places to fifth position.
Having been knocked off his number-one perch, West Indies' Shivnarine Chanderpaul is now in second spot with Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka in third.
Younis will have to continue to score heavily to maintain his stay at the top because he has a very slender one-point lead at the top with almost every player in the top 10.
Gambhir's opportunity to improve his position will come when the Test series against New Zealand gets underway next month.
Delhi teammate Virender Sehwag is placed 11th, while Sachin Tendulkar share the 17th spot with compatriot VVS Laxman.
In the Test bowlers' chart, Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan is still top of the heap but the gap between him and South Africa's Dale Steyn has now been cut from 43 ratings points to just 17.
With Steyn just starting a Test series against Australia, there is every chance the Protea could nudge in front of Murali before too long.
Sri Lanka's other big-name spinner Ajantha Mendis also fared badly in the match as he finished with the figures of 59-14-157-1. As a result, he has slipped five places, out of the top 20 to joint-23rd position, and is now level with South Africa's left-arm slow bowler Paul Harris.
Harbhajan Singh remained India's top Test bowler at the eighth place, while Zaheer Khan is ranked 12th.
Source:http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Younis-replaces-Chanderpaul-as-No-1/articleshow/4194725.cms
Younis batted for nearly 13 hours in Karachi to become just the third Pakistan player in history to get past the 300-run mark in a single Test innings after Hanif Mohammad (337 vs West Indies at Bridgetown in 1958) and Inzamam-ul-Haq (329 vs New Zealand at Lahore in 2002).
Younis was the only real mover in the top 20 of the rankings although Mahela Jayawardena's double hundred in the same match means he stays in fourth position as Australia's Michael Clarke drops two places to fifth position.
Having been knocked off his number-one perch, West Indies' Shivnarine Chanderpaul is now in second spot with Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka in third.
Younis will have to continue to score heavily to maintain his stay at the top because he has a very slender one-point lead at the top with almost every player in the top 10.
Gambhir's opportunity to improve his position will come when the Test series against New Zealand gets underway next month.
Delhi teammate Virender Sehwag is placed 11th, while Sachin Tendulkar share the 17th spot with compatriot VVS Laxman.
In the Test bowlers' chart, Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan is still top of the heap but the gap between him and South Africa's Dale Steyn has now been cut from 43 ratings points to just 17.
With Steyn just starting a Test series against Australia, there is every chance the Protea could nudge in front of Murali before too long.
Sri Lanka's other big-name spinner Ajantha Mendis also fared badly in the match as he finished with the figures of 59-14-157-1. As a result, he has slipped five places, out of the top 20 to joint-23rd position, and is now level with South Africa's left-arm slow bowler Paul Harris.
Harbhajan Singh remained India's top Test bowler at the eighth place, while Zaheer Khan is ranked 12th.
Source:http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Younis-replaces-Chanderpaul-as-No-1/articleshow/4194725.cms
Sachin Tendulkar at Madame Tussauds
LONDON: Cricket maestro Sachin Tendulkar will be the latest sporting great to be featured at the internationally-renowned Madame Tussauds in London when a new wax figure of the Mumbai-born batsman joins the A-list line-up in April.
Tendulkar follows in the famous footsteps of Bollywood greats Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan and will join other cricket legends Brain Lara and Shane Warne to become the very first Indian sports personality to be portrayed, the waxworks museum said in a statement on Friday.
The cricketing legend has already had a sitting with the Madame Tussauds studios team who last week travelled to Mumbai to capture a catalogue of reference photographs and hundreds of precise measurements.
The information they collected at the two hour session at the Taj Lands End Hotel will prove invaluable as the sculptors and hair and make up artists get to work on his figure.
"We are delighted to confirm our next Indian superstar is going to be Sachin Tendulkar; his achievements on the cricket pitch are phenomenal and he is one of the biggest names in international sport," says Liz Edwards, Madame Tussauds PR manager.
"The Bollywood stars we have included over the past ten years have proved enormously popular with Asian guests and film fans from all over the world. We know Sachin will be just as popular for sports fans from home and abroad and are looking forward to introducing the real Sachin to his wax double soon."
Tendulkar, the Mumbai Indians Captain will be featured in typical celebratory "on the pitch" pose after another century marked in the scorebook.
He will be dressed in his cricket whites which he has donated. The figure will be created at Madame Tussauds studios in West London at a cost of 150,000 pounds.
The cricket star will join the ranks of sporting greats, including David Beckham, Mohammed Ali, Tiger Woods and Jesse Owens, in Madame Tussauds interactive Sports Zone.
There will also be a cricketing challenge around the introduction of the figure, where guests can test their cricketing skills against the 'masterblaster'.
Source:http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Younis-replaces-Chanderpaul-as-No-1/articleshow/4194725.cms
Tendulkar follows in the famous footsteps of Bollywood greats Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan and will join other cricket legends Brain Lara and Shane Warne to become the very first Indian sports personality to be portrayed, the waxworks museum said in a statement on Friday.
The cricketing legend has already had a sitting with the Madame Tussauds studios team who last week travelled to Mumbai to capture a catalogue of reference photographs and hundreds of precise measurements.
The information they collected at the two hour session at the Taj Lands End Hotel will prove invaluable as the sculptors and hair and make up artists get to work on his figure.
"We are delighted to confirm our next Indian superstar is going to be Sachin Tendulkar; his achievements on the cricket pitch are phenomenal and he is one of the biggest names in international sport," says Liz Edwards, Madame Tussauds PR manager.
"The Bollywood stars we have included over the past ten years have proved enormously popular with Asian guests and film fans from all over the world. We know Sachin will be just as popular for sports fans from home and abroad and are looking forward to introducing the real Sachin to his wax double soon."
Tendulkar, the Mumbai Indians Captain will be featured in typical celebratory "on the pitch" pose after another century marked in the scorebook.
He will be dressed in his cricket whites which he has donated. The figure will be created at Madame Tussauds studios in West London at a cost of 150,000 pounds.
The cricket star will join the ranks of sporting greats, including David Beckham, Mohammed Ali, Tiger Woods and Jesse Owens, in Madame Tussauds interactive Sports Zone.
There will also be a cricketing challenge around the introduction of the figure, where guests can test their cricketing skills against the 'masterblaster'.
Source:http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Younis-replaces-Chanderpaul-as-No-1/articleshow/4194725.cms
New Zealand win series
WELLINGTON: New Zealand on Friday snatched a dramatic last-ball victory in the second Twenty20 international to clinch the series 2-0 against India, who very nearly pulled off an incredible win in the dying moments of the thriller.
Chasing a modest 150 to win, the hosts were cruising along comfortable before the Indians changed the complexion of the game with some tidy spin bowling and Irfan Pathan's double strike in the 18th over.
Needing 12 runs off Pathan's last over, the Kiwis rode on Brendon McCullum's unbeaten 69 to scrape through to record their third consecutive victory against the world champions. The home team won the thrilling match by five wickets.
The result of the ding-dong battle at Westpac stadium could have been different had substitute fielder Rohit Sharma latched on to a difficult catch off McCullum, which would have carried the game to the eliminator stage.
Source:http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/quickiearticleshow/4201124.cms
Chasing a modest 150 to win, the hosts were cruising along comfortable before the Indians changed the complexion of the game with some tidy spin bowling and Irfan Pathan's double strike in the 18th over.
Needing 12 runs off Pathan's last over, the Kiwis rode on Brendon McCullum's unbeaten 69 to scrape through to record their third consecutive victory against the world champions. The home team won the thrilling match by five wickets.
The result of the ding-dong battle at Westpac stadium could have been different had substitute fielder Rohit Sharma latched on to a difficult catch off McCullum, which would have carried the game to the eliminator stage.
Source:http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/quickiearticleshow/4201124.cms
Bopara's maiden Test ton keeps England on top
Bridgetown, Barbados: Ravi Bopara collected his maiden Test hundred to help bat England to a formidable first innings total in the fourth Test against West Indies on Friday.
Bopara followed up his blistering hundred in a two-day, warm-up match last weekend with an equally purposeful 104 which allowed England to declare their first innings on 600 for six, 45 minutes after tea on the second day at Kensington Oval.
England then enhanced their position when James Anderson claimed West Indies captain Chris Gayle for six before stumps were drawn as the home team reached 85 for one in reply.
Bopara arrived in the Caribbean last Saturday from the England Lions' tour of New Zealand to cover for the injured Andrew Flintoff, who has flown home for treatment on his injured hip, and got into his stride with 124 against a side of young, inexperienced Barbadians.
On Friday, the 23-year-old shared successive hundred-run stands with Paul Collingwood and Tim Ambrose. Collingwood scored 96 and Ambrose was unbeaten on 76 when England declared.
Fidel Edwards took three for 151 runs from 30 overs and was the most successful West Indies bowler. Anderson then trapped Gayle lbw for six playing back and across to a delivery that straightened on him in the fifth over of the West Indies reply.
England had to refer the decision to video umpire Daryl Harper to get the decision, after on-field umpire Russell Tiffin chose to give the West Indies captain the benefit of the doubt. But England could not make another breakthrough before the close, as Ramnaresh Sarwan, not out on 40, and Devon Smith, unbeaten on 37, defied the visitors' attack in an unbroken stand of 72.
Bopara, playing his first Test since the tour of Sri Lanka at the end of 2007, overcame a black eye, the result of being accidentally hit under his grill by paceman Fidel Edwards.
"I felt pretty confident from the minute I went out there on the back of a hundred in the warm-up game," said Bopara. "I'm happy with that and hopefully I can build from there. Fidel Edwards did come back at me, getting me on the grill, but it fired me up.
"It looks a flat wicket out there and, if I have to do my overs, I have to do my overs, and hopefully I can get a few wickets as well."
England benefited from West Indies' indifference in the field, after the visitors continued from their overnight total of 301 for three. At lunch, England reached 405 for four with Collingwood and Bopara having started to drop anchor, after Kevin Pietersen was dismissed for 41 in the first half-hour.
Collingwood reached his 50 from 68 balls in the final over before lunch, when he struck Daren Powell into mid-wicket for three. But he and Bopara were both fortunate to have survived until the interval.
Bopara, on four, was dropped at long-leg by Jerome Taylor off Edwards hooking, and Collingwood was dropped by short leg fielder Ryan Hinds on 44 off spinner Suleiman Benn. Pietersen was out when Edwards trapped him lbw on the back-foot - a decision which the batsman challenged under the umpire review system and lost.
After lunch, Ambrose joined Bopara and they continued to plunder the runs, following the dismissal of Collingwood, as England reached 553 for five.Collingwood was caught inside the deep backward point boundary off Edwards trying to reach his hundred in grand style.
He added 149 at close to a run-a-minute for the fifth wicket with Bopara. Ambrose was more fortunate, when wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin dropped him third ball before he had scored off Sulieman Benn.
After tea, Bopara continued untroubled to his landmark which came when he clipped a slower ball from Taylor to fine leg for a single. But trying to accelerate, he was caught at deep fine leg hooking at short, rising ball from Edwards. He batted close to four hours, faced 143 balls, and struck nine fours and one six.
England trail in the five-Test series 1-0, following an innings and 23-run defeat in the opening Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica.
Soruce:http://cricketnext.in.com/news/boparas-maiden-test-ton-keeps-england-on-top/38661-13-1.html
Bopara followed up his blistering hundred in a two-day, warm-up match last weekend with an equally purposeful 104 which allowed England to declare their first innings on 600 for six, 45 minutes after tea on the second day at Kensington Oval.
England then enhanced their position when James Anderson claimed West Indies captain Chris Gayle for six before stumps were drawn as the home team reached 85 for one in reply.
Bopara arrived in the Caribbean last Saturday from the England Lions' tour of New Zealand to cover for the injured Andrew Flintoff, who has flown home for treatment on his injured hip, and got into his stride with 124 against a side of young, inexperienced Barbadians.
On Friday, the 23-year-old shared successive hundred-run stands with Paul Collingwood and Tim Ambrose. Collingwood scored 96 and Ambrose was unbeaten on 76 when England declared.
Fidel Edwards took three for 151 runs from 30 overs and was the most successful West Indies bowler. Anderson then trapped Gayle lbw for six playing back and across to a delivery that straightened on him in the fifth over of the West Indies reply.
England had to refer the decision to video umpire Daryl Harper to get the decision, after on-field umpire Russell Tiffin chose to give the West Indies captain the benefit of the doubt. But England could not make another breakthrough before the close, as Ramnaresh Sarwan, not out on 40, and Devon Smith, unbeaten on 37, defied the visitors' attack in an unbroken stand of 72.
Bopara, playing his first Test since the tour of Sri Lanka at the end of 2007, overcame a black eye, the result of being accidentally hit under his grill by paceman Fidel Edwards.
"I felt pretty confident from the minute I went out there on the back of a hundred in the warm-up game," said Bopara. "I'm happy with that and hopefully I can build from there. Fidel Edwards did come back at me, getting me on the grill, but it fired me up.
"It looks a flat wicket out there and, if I have to do my overs, I have to do my overs, and hopefully I can get a few wickets as well."
England benefited from West Indies' indifference in the field, after the visitors continued from their overnight total of 301 for three. At lunch, England reached 405 for four with Collingwood and Bopara having started to drop anchor, after Kevin Pietersen was dismissed for 41 in the first half-hour.
Collingwood reached his 50 from 68 balls in the final over before lunch, when he struck Daren Powell into mid-wicket for three. But he and Bopara were both fortunate to have survived until the interval.
Bopara, on four, was dropped at long-leg by Jerome Taylor off Edwards hooking, and Collingwood was dropped by short leg fielder Ryan Hinds on 44 off spinner Suleiman Benn. Pietersen was out when Edwards trapped him lbw on the back-foot - a decision which the batsman challenged under the umpire review system and lost.
After lunch, Ambrose joined Bopara and they continued to plunder the runs, following the dismissal of Collingwood, as England reached 553 for five.Collingwood was caught inside the deep backward point boundary off Edwards trying to reach his hundred in grand style.
He added 149 at close to a run-a-minute for the fifth wicket with Bopara. Ambrose was more fortunate, when wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin dropped him third ball before he had scored off Sulieman Benn.
After tea, Bopara continued untroubled to his landmark which came when he clipped a slower ball from Taylor to fine leg for a single. But trying to accelerate, he was caught at deep fine leg hooking at short, rising ball from Edwards. He batted close to four hours, faced 143 balls, and struck nine fours and one six.
England trail in the five-Test series 1-0, following an innings and 23-run defeat in the opening Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica.
Soruce:http://cricketnext.in.com/news/boparas-maiden-test-ton-keeps-england-on-top/38661-13-1.html
Anand suffers second defeat at Linares
Linares, Spain, Feb 26: World champion Viswanathan Anand was handed a shocking defeat by Norwegian prodigy Magnus Carlsen in the sixth round as the Indian slipped to joint fourth spot at the Magistral Ciudad de Linares chess tournament here.
The Indian ace now has three points out of a possible six and will have to pull out something special to get a hold in the remaining eight rounds of the Super Grandmasters tournament.
Anand, who has two losses in the first six rounds, shares the joint fourth spot with Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine while Alexander Grischuk of Russia with 4.5 points is in the sole lead after a win over Levon Aronian of Armenia in an another thrilling encounter. Aronian was sharing the second spot with Carlsen with 3.5 points each.
The Indian ace now has three points out of a possible six and will have to pull out something special to get a hold in the remaining eight rounds of the Super Grandmasters tournament.
Anand, who has two losses in the first six rounds, shares the joint fourth spot with Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine while Alexander Grischuk of Russia with 4.5 points is in the sole lead after a win over Levon Aronian of Armenia in an another thrilling encounter. Aronian was sharing the second spot with Carlsen with 3.5 points each.
Strauss leads charge
BARBADOS, Feb 26: Andrew Strauss capitalised on winning an important toss by leading England’s charge on the first morning of the fourth Test in Barbados. By lunch, he had racked up a fluent 99-ball 71, as he and Alastair Cook added 108 unbroken runs for the first wicket. In a session reminiscent of their first morning’s work in Antigua last week, England’s openers made unhindered progress on a surface that has turned out to be every bit as quick and true as anticipated. The only genuine opportunity offered by either man came when Strauss, on 58 at the time, was badly dropped by Chris Gayle at first slip off the bowling of Fidel Edwards.
By and large, West Indies’ bowlers produced another disciplined display with the ball, finding the right line and length and making England’s openers wait for their scoring opportunities. (Agencies)
By and large, West Indies’ bowlers produced another disciplined display with the ball, finding the right line and length and making England’s openers wait for their scoring opportunities. (Agencies)
Ponting leads Aussie fightback
Johannesburg, Feb 26: Captain Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke shared a century partnership as Australia fought back after a poor start on the first day of the first Test against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium here today.
Australia were 254 for five when bad light stopped play.
Ponting (83) and Clarke (68) put on 113 for the fourth wicket with attacking stroke play after Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel reduced them to 38 for three.
Although Ponting and Clarke were out in fairly quick succession, new cap Marcus North (47 not out) and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (37 not out) put on an unbeaten 72 for the sixth wicket to continue the Australian recovery.
Australia were 254 for five when bad light stopped play.
Ponting (83) and Clarke (68) put on 113 for the fourth wicket with attacking stroke play after Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel reduced them to 38 for three.
Although Ponting and Clarke were out in fairly quick succession, new cap Marcus North (47 not out) and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (37 not out) put on an unbeaten 72 for the sixth wicket to continue the Australian recovery.
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