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Ishant doubtful for first ODI
Oz on top despite De Villiers’ ton
Bopara hits maiden Test hundred
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Sarwan close to another hundred
Freddie may skip IPL for Ashes
Couzins strikes as Kiwis hold India
Chopra, Kohli take Delhi in quarters
WADA endorses Asif ban
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Wellington, February 28 An MRI scan carried out on his shoulder today 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. Butler, Mills return to ODI squad
Fast bowler Ian Butler'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 Butler, 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. 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.
— PTI
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Oz on top despite De Villiers’ ton
Johannesburg, February 28 Despite an unbeaten century by AB De Villiers (104) South Africa were all out for just 220 runs 50 minutes before tea on the third day to concede a first-innings lead of 246. Earlier, De Villiers resumed on his overnight score of 13 and lasted until the end of the innings having batted for 285 minutes and faced 185 balls for his eighth century in his 50th Test. Australia’s left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson was the chief destroyer with top-class figures of four for 25 in 18.1 overs. The tourists batted for 10 overs in their second innings before tea and openers Phillip Hughes and Simon Katich made it safely through to 30 without loss. Australia captain Ricky Ponting declined to enforce the follow-on and forecast rain showers will be South Africa’s best hope of making the game safe. Johnson was well-supported by a fiery Peter Siddle, who took three for 76 in 21 overs. The two pacemen found top gear as they reduced South Africa to 158 for eight at lunch. The 25-year-old De Villiers was the last specialist batsman remaining and had scored a defiant, level-headed 63 not out. — Reuters Scoreboard Australia (first innings): 466
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Bopara hits maiden Test hundred
Bridgetown, February 28 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 as 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. The 23-year-old yesterday 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. —AFP Scoreboard England (1st Innings):
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Sarwan close to another hundred Bridgetown, February 28 At the interval, Ramnaresh Sarwan was unbeaten on 81 - eyeing his third hundred of the series - and Shivnarine Chanderpaul was not out on four. The off-spinner struck with his third ball after Sarwan and Smith batted through the first hour to add 108 for the second wicket. England started with Stuart Broad from the Malcolm Marshall End at the southern side of the ground and Ryan Sidebottom from the opposite Joel Garner End. Earlier, 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.
—AFP Scoreboard England (1st Innings) 600-6 decl
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Freddie may skip IPL for Ashes
London, February 28 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 eyeing 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 cricketer 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, after being out in the second innings (in Antigua), I went into the dressing rooms and threw my bat," Flintoff said.
— PTI |
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Couzins strikes as Kiwis hold India
Auckland, February 28 With this victory, the Black Sticks kept alive the series with India going into tomorrow's series decider with a 1-0 lead after winning the second Test 2-1. The visitors had drawn the opening Test against the hosts 1-1 in Wellington last week. India started the proceedings today on a confident note and dominated the match for the most part of the opening half. India opened the scoring against the run of play in the 13th minute when a lapse from New Zealand defence allowed India centre forward Shivendra Singh into the circle and he made no mistake in nailing home a waist-high shot. Soon after taking 1-0 lead, a confident Indian players employed a series of fast breaking counter attacks, but to no avail. Wilson got stick to the ball but could not gain control of the difficult pass and pushed it over the top of the post. However, New Zealand came out rejuvenated after the change of ends and responded well to their coach Shane McLeod's call for increased ball speed and tempo. The Black Sticks worked hard to get back on level terms after conceding the early goal. They earned as many as three penalty corners in the second half against the visitors' none, but every time Indian custodian Baljit Singh came to his side's rescue. Baljit was as usual outstanding in front of the goal, making several crucial saves, including a strong Richard Petherick drag flick and cracking reverse follow up shot on the rebound by Simon Child. However, Baljit's heroics went in vain as Couzins found his target with just seconds from the hooter when he skilfully picked up a free hit from Phil Burrows to push home from close range. Last match of the tour will be played tomorrow at the same venue.
— PTI |
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Tendulkar’s statue at Tussauds
New Delhi, February 28 The highest Test and one-day run-getter’s figure will also rub shoulders with sporting headliners such as David Beckham and Tiger Woods in the museum’s interactive sports zone. “We are delighted to confirm our next sporting 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,” Liz Edwards, Madame Tussauds’ PR manager, said. Tendulkar will be the first Indian sports personality to be unveiled at Tussauds. Tendulkar will be featured in a typical celebratory “on the pitch” pose after scoring a century, dressed in cricket Whites. He has had a sitting with a team that travelled to Mumbai to capture a catalogue of reference photographs and precise measurements. — Reuters
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Chopra, Kohli take Delhi in quarters
Agartala, February 28 Chasing a highly competitive 306 to win, Delhi overhauled the stiff target with nine balls to spare as Rajat Bhatia (unbeaten 33) held his nerves in the dying moments to steer Delhi to victory. Earlier, riding on half centuries from Sanjay Bangar (56) and Vairamudi Cheluvaraj (76) and a late blitzkrieg by Dhiran Salvi (48 not out), Railways set Delhi a challenging total. Delhi had made the pre-quarter final stage of the tournament after finishing second in the North Zone competition. Tamil Nadu joined Delhi in the last eight after pipping Orissa on the basis of superior net run-rate as their pre-quarter final match was abandoned without a ball being bowled following overnight rain that left the Maharaja Veer Vikram Stadium ground unplayable. Delhi will take on Mumbai while Tamil Nadu will clash with Bengal in their respective last-eight fixtures on Wednesday. Railways: 305 (Bangar 56, Cheluvaraj 76; Manan 2 for 56, Manhas 2 for 31). Delhi: 309 for 8 (Chopra 107, Kohli 114; Anureet 2 for 56, Sharma 3 for 57).
— PTI |
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WADA endorses Asif ban Lahore, February 28 A doping tribunal of the league last month ruled that Asif violated the anti-doping codes and banned him for one year effective from September 22, 2008 to September 21, 2009. There was speculation that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) might ask for a stiffer penalty but its spokesman told AFP that it would not appeal. “Under the Indian league rules, WADA has no right of appeal in first instance. The league rules give WADA a right of appeal in second instance,” he said in an email message. The IPL is recognised by the International Cricket Council which follows WADA doping rules. “In this particular case, given that the parties allowed to appeal in first instance (the player and the IPL) chose not to appeal the initial decision within the deadline set forth, WADA could not pursue the matter further.” Asif, alongwith pace partner Shoaib Akhtar, also tested positive for nandrolone in 2006. A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) tribunal banned Akhtar for two years and Asif for one year. However the bans were lifted on appeal. Then WADA challenged the overturn of the ban in the Court of Arbitration of Sports (CAS) in Switzerland. The CAS, however, rejected the appeal, saying they did not have jurisdiction to hear the appeal. The PCB chairman Ijaz Butt earlier this month said Asif is an asset for Pakistan and would play international cricket as soon as he finished his ban. — AFP
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Bopanna-Niemenin lose in Delray Beach event Warne bats for shortened IPL Anand to meet Radjabov in Rd 8 Chetan loses at German Open
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