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Ponting to retire from Test cricket after Perth Test

Perth: Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting today announced that he will retire from Test cricket after playing in the third Test against South Africa which begins here tomorrow.

"A few hours ago I let the team know that this upcoming Test will be my last," Ponting said at a hastily-called press conference here.

"It's a decision I thought long and hard about, put in long consideration about the decision, at the end of the day it was about my results and my output in this series so far," Ponting said.

"It hasn't been to the level required for batsmen and players in the Australian team. My level of performance hasn't been good enough." Following a poor start to the Test series with low scores in Brisbane and Adelaide, Ponting said he was troubled by the "tentative" manner of his dismissals.

In the second Test in Adelaide, he was bowled twice in the same match for only the second time in a career that began in 1995.

Ponting has managed just 20 runs from three innings in two Tests so far against South Africa.

Headley, Rana to be sentenced in Jan next year

Chicago: The sentencing of American-born Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist David Headley, accused of involvement in 26/11 Mumbai attacks, has been fixed for January 17 next year while that of his accomplice Tahawwur Rana has been rescheduled for January 15 from December four.

According to Chicago court spokesperson Randall Samborn, US District Judge Harry Leinenweber will announce the sentence of the two accused, who have been charged with conspiracy of 2008 Mumbai attack and plan to attack a Denmark newspaper.

"The sentencing date for Tahawwur Rana has been rescheduled from December 4, 2012, to January 15, 2013, and the sentencing of David Coleman Headley has been scheduled for January 17, 2013.

"Each sentencing hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:45 am on those dates before US District Judge Harry Leinenweber of the Dirksen Federal Courthouse," the spokesperson said.

The 52-year-old Healdey, who conducted reconnaissance of all the targets in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks for Lashker-e-Taiba, has pleaded guilty of all the charges framed by the Federal Bureau of Investigations. 

Sensex crosses 19K, zooms over 200 pts

Mumbai: The Sensex on Thursday breached the 19,000-mark for the first time in nearly two-months in early trade on persistent fund inflows on expectations that the government will be able to push through economic reforms.

The 30-share barometer opened on a positive note and further picked up the momentum to to trade 215.88 points, or 1.15 percent, higher at 19,057.96, a level last seen on October 5 (intra-day) this year.

Stocks of consumer durables, FMCG, realty and auto sectors were in keen demand, helping Sensex to regain the 19,000 level.

The BSE benchmark Sensex has rallied over 336 points in the previous two sessions, after credit rating agency Moody's said that India's outlook is stable.