Nottingham, July 31
England almost pushed India out of the second Test at Trent Bridge, as they piled on the runs in another entertaining day’s play.

Ian Bell (159) was the star of the show, and also the centre of some controversy as England ended Day 3 at a massive 441 for 6, with an overall lead of 374. The Indian team will have to dig deep to avoid being beaten here as they will face an uphill task from here on. England wicketkeeper, whose crucial century at Lord’s saw his side winning the first Test, was at it again with a wonderful, and stroke-filled 55-ball 64.

Earlier, Ian Bell struck his 15th Test century and then was given run-out in one of the most bizarre manners only to be brought back by Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. England reached 254 for three at Tea as the third umpire's decision was overturned during the tea-break.

How times change! Till Saturday afternoon, the abbreviation of the day was SRT and noun was century. Within half-an-inning, by the evening, the letters to follow were DRS. And the noun? ‘Howler’! Then there was the Bell run out, which gave us the scowler (read Bell, Strauss, Broad and the rest of Trent Bridge). But someone should read these guys the rules.

But the scowls changed when things went the British way. Spirit of the game was upheld, till the time the Brits are at it, again. But let’s stick to the DRS business, since the run-out doesn’t have any controversies involved. Bell didn’t know the rules, that’s all. As soon as Harbhajan Singh hit the cover off the ball and was given LBW off Stuart Broad to become the meat in a dubious sandwich later called a hat-trick, there were howls against the howler by Marais Erasmus. That wasn’t out, was it?

Well it was, and guess why. The umpire raised his finger and that was it. Now, if anyone has any issues, well ask the BCCI. After all, it was them who said “we don’t want any review of lbws!” So live with it. The irony is that India have by and large got the thick end of the stick when it comes to lbws in the series so far, and Praveen Kumar just about had enough when the same Erasmus decided not go with not out when one English bloke was actually lbw.

So Praveen went to the South African and they had a conversation where the language used was English (the Murderous Meerut and Confusing Cape accents). Ultimately Praveen didn’t get a word of it, so used the only sign that would convey his opinion - he raised his finger, to tell Erasmus, “That was out!”

Lo and behold, Ranjan Madugalle hauled him up for a 20% fine (the list of players outside the sub-continent ever fined by ole Ranjan wouldn’t fill a test tube). And Bhajji, while he was dragging Praveen off, may well have had something to say to the umpire as he passed by, the fallout of which he felt later.

So essentially, Indians paid for BCCI’s stand - Praveen in cash and Bhajji in kind.

We may soon get a typically elaborate release from BCCI. “We reserve the right to appeal LBWs when Indian batsmen hit the cover off the ball.” It was even more fun when you get to hear the old dudes - Ravi Shastri and Nasser Hussain - going at each other’s throats on air on Sunday, with Harsha trying the near-impossible exercise of staying out of it all and mediating, all at the same time.

The topic was how BCCI deserved it (from Nasser’s end) and how Nasser was jealous (from Ravi’s end, which he denied as soon as asked on air). Harsha later professed that he was trying to get Kofi Annan’s job. Kofi Annan? Ban Ki-Moon, surely, was who he meant. (For all ignoramuses, Annan was the Secretary-General of the United Nations, but now it is Ban Ki-Moon). Such inspired conversation on air! Bhogles the mind.

Stuart Broad got England back in the Test with a burst of terrific seam bowling during which he picked a hat-trick as well. Before he got the second new ball to hum around, the Indians looked as if they were taking total control of the match, especially when Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh were having that massive partnership.

Yuvraj capitalised on the life he got early in his innings to get a half-century full of crisp shots that took the pressure off Dravid and allowed him to play his anchor role to perfection. Dravid got his second century of the series and it was a superb example of how to construct a Test match innings.

He was patient, he was determined and happy to take the blows on his hand and body for India’s sake. How often has he played such a selfless innings for India. When he walks out to bat, it looks as if it is not a cricket bat in his hand but the Indian Tricolour that he wants to wave proudly over his head.

While he is at the crease, not just the dressing room but also Indian cricket supporters breathe easy. They know that India is safe and secure while he is there. He and his old mate VVS Laxman had to play the important role on the second morning to ensure that England did not get the early breakthrough and it was only near lunch that Laxman was consumed by a delivery that bounced and left him.

Here is another underrated player who gives India so much, but has not got adequate returns from the supporters. This is of course something that happens in every sport where there is the presence of another player who dwarfs all around him.

Look what Tiger Woods does to other golfers, see how Roger Federer stops talk of any other players, however great they may be. That has been the lot of Dravid and Laxman to be in the shadows of Sachin Tendulkar.

They don’t mind it of course because it allows them to carry on their job without the burden of expectations that Tendulkar bears. They have their own pressures too and how capably they have dealt with those over the years. The Indian dressing room is lucky to have players of such class and calibre with them and if the youngsters are not learning from them, then one can only pity them for they are getting free learning experience that can stand them in great stead in their careers.

Broad was on the verge of being dropped for the first Test but managed to retain his place and with the haul of wickets as well as batting handily — he has now become the principal player for England. He has become the game changer, be it with his partnership with Prior at Lords in the second innings or with Graeme Swann in the first innings here.

He has with the ball rattled the Indian lower order too and not let them hang about. If England win this Test, then they owe him a big thanks for his bold batting and his incisive bowling. — PMG

Nottingham, July 31
Rahul Dravid says he is elated to equal his childhood hero Sunil Gavaskar's record of 34 Test centuries. Dravid scored a gritty 117 at Trent Bridge under tough conditions, but the Indian batsmen failed to capitalise on his good work and folded up for 288 in the first innings Saturday.

It was Dravid's second century, having made an unbeaten 103 at Lord's in the first Test. "As a kid, I have grown up in a generation where (Sunil) Gavaskar and (Gundappa) Vishwanath were heroes for us. In days of my backyard cricket, I was either a Gavaskar or a Viswanath. So to be able to equal something that Gavaskar has done, is fantastic," said Dravid. "I don't compare myself with Gavaskar. He is a legend of the game."

Dravid rued the team's missed opportunity when they had the upper hand in the second Test, but could not press home the advantage. "We had them 124 for eight yesterday and today we were 267 for four, but we collapsed. In a tight low-scoring game like this and when the wicket is tough, you have to take advantage of such situations. But the boys are workng hard. It is realy tough out there. It's 50-50 now," said Dravid. "We would like to chase as few runs as possible. We have to bowl in right areas and restrict them to a low total," he said.

Dravid, who stood up valiantly taking some blows on his body, said the knock on his right wrist was tough to bear. "It spasmed for 5-6 overs. It was a tricky period and for sometime, I did not have much feeling in my right hand.

“Once we got through to lunch, it eased out. It is still paining but not much. Towards the end, I was cramping up as it was a hot day and I was on field for a long time," he said. Dravid had to open the innings in absence of injured Gautam Gambhir. He had to open in the second innings at Lord's also. It is something that Dravid is not at ease with. "At number three, there is some breathing space even if it is a little bit. — IANS

Nottingham, July 31
England off-spinner Graeme Swann has been reprimanded for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct by kicking stumps in frustration and dislodging the bails during the second day of the second Test against India here.

Swann was yesterday found to have breached Article 2.1.2 of the Code that relates to abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an international match. He has been reprimanded for a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct.

The charge related to an incident at the end of the 80th over of the India innings, when the England bowler kicked the stumps in frustration and dislodged the bails. He immediately apologised to the on-field umpires for his actions.

The charge was laid by on-field umpires, Asad Rauf and Marais Erasmus as well as third umpire Billy Bowden, of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires - as well as fourth umpire Tim Robinson, an ICC statement said.

After play concluded, the player admitted the offence and accepted the proposed sanction offered to him by Ranjan Madugalle, the chief referee of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees. As such, there was no need for a formal hearing. — PTI

Rio de Janeiro, July 31
World champions Spain will face former world champions France in their campaign to qualify for the World Cup finals in Brazil in 2014 following Saturday's gala preliminary round draw. Spain, who are also the European champions, were the last name drawn in the European qualifying zone and the last of the 166 countries to be allocated a place in the 107-minute globally televised event in a windswept auditorium at Rio's glamouros Marina da Gloria.

High winds buffeted the temporary building before the draw started, causing slight damage to the roof, but inside stars of showbiz and soccer were unaffected with Pele given a huge welcome when he was introduced to the audience. Pele, who won three World Cups with Brazil, took no formal part in the proceedings but another former Brazil striker Ronaldo, the World Cup's record scorer with 15 goals, drew Spain's name out to place them alongside Belarus, Georgia and Finland in the five-team Group I.

The other eight European groups consist of six teams.

French coach Laurent Blanc, in Rio unlike Spain boss Vicente del Bosque, said afterwards: "We had to face one of the top seeds, and we got the biggest because we are somehow in the second group of seeds. We should have been in the first group - and now we have drawn the best team of the last World Cup, but then, you have no choice."

With only the group winner assured of an automatic place in the finals, one of Spain or France will most likely have to qualify through the playoffs to reach Brazil.

The European draw, was, as always, the highlight of the proceedings and produced some tantalising battles when the qualifiers start in the autumn of 2012 after the European championship in Poland and Ukraine. Coinicidentally those two co-hosts were drawn in the same group along with top seeded England, who have faced Poland in seven previous World Cups.

Montenegro, who are also in England's group for the Euro 2012 qualifiers, were placed in the same group as tiny San Marino. There will be plenty at stake too when seeded Croatia and Serbia, once part of the old Yugoslavia, meet each other in Group A which includes British rivals Scotland and Wales as well as Belgium and Macedonia. — Reuters

Budapest, July 31
Jenson Button marked his 200th Grand Prix with a reminder of his class on Sunday when he drove his McLaren to a stirring victory in a chaotic and incident-filled Hungarian Grand Prix.

The 31-year-old Briton, who started third on the grid, made the most of some wretched ill-fortune for his team-mate and compatriot Lewis Hamilton in changing wet-dry conditions to record his second win of the year and the 11th of his career. "It's a great moment, all around a major weekend. For some reason, I like these conditions," said Button of the slippery track.

Back on the circuit where he claimed his first F1 win in 2006, for Honda, Button revelled in the demanding circumstances. Given a celebratory cake before the race on Saturday, he ate it with relish.

Hamilton, having started second, led for long periods after taking early control, but was caught out by a succession of strategic errors - when he chose the wrong tyres in rapidly-changing weather - and a harsh stewards' decision to give him a drive-through penalty after he forced Paul Di Resta off the track.

"The better man won today," said Hamilton. "The team has done a fantastic job. It's a fantastic way to go into the (summer) break. We would have liked a one-two, I let the team down a little bit, but we will be back."

Hamilton, who had spun in the sudden rain and then rejoined rapidly in front of oncoming traffic, ended up finishing fourth behind a triumphant Button, second-placed German Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull and two-times champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso of Ferrari.

For Vettel, although it was disappointing not to win again, his second place was enough for him to increase his lead in the drivers' title race as his nearest rivals finished behind him. Australian Mark Webber finished fifth in the second Red Bull ahead of Brazilian Felipe Massa in the second Ferrari with impressive British rookie Di Resta seventh for Force India.

Ferozpur, July 31
Riding high on a series of outstanding performances on the international shooting arena, trap shooter Ronjan Sodhi is all set to become World No. 1 in the International Shooting Sport Federation’s (ISSF) rankings.

Sodhi, who has been recently inducted into Punjab Police as DSP, will be bestowed with the numero uno status by ISSF tomorrow, confirmed his father Malwinder Sodhi while talking to The Tribune here today.

Ferozpur born Ronjan, who is at present undergoing training in Italy, will be the first trap shooter from India to become World No. 1 in double trap shooting. Malwinder Singh said Ronjan was preparing under the supervision of world’s best sports psychologists and physiotherapists for the London Olympics as his target would be to bring gold for the country. However, before the 2012 Olympics, Ronjan will be participating in World Shooting Championship in Belgrade this September, followed by another World Cup event in Dubai.

Shooting runs in Ronjan’s blood as Malwinder Singh and brother Biren Sodhi have been champion shooters themselves. A product of St Stephen’s College in Delhi and Amity Business School, Ronjan belongs to Sodhinagar village in Ferozpur and has been a recipient of many prestigious awards, including the coveted Arjuna Award and the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award.

Ronjan first won a medal at the Junior World Cup held in New Delhi in 2000 and did not look back, bagging over two dozen gold and an equal number of silver and bronze medals in various international events.

Till date, Ronjan has won gold in the Commonwealth Shooting Championship at Melbourne (2005), Asian Clay Shooting Championship at Bangkok (2005), ISSF World Cup at Belgrade (2008), besides in the Asian Clay Shooting Championship at Kazakhstan (2009).

In ISSF World Cups held at Lonato, Italy (2010) and Izmir, Turkey (2010), Ronjan bagged gold in Individual Double Trap with record scores of 145/150 and 143/150, respectively. His extraordinary sprint continues till date as he recently bagged top honours at ISSF Shotgun World Cup at Maribor, Slovenia.

Earlier, he had won gold at XVI Asian Games held at Guanghzou, China, last year followed by silver at World Cup staged in Beijing, the performance that secured him a birth for London Olympics.

Ronjan’s mother, Geetanjali Sodhi, while expressing happiness over her son’s extraordinary achievements, said, “We feel proud of our son who has brought laurels and glory not only to this border town but to the entire nation,” adding that she was hopeful of Ronjan bringing gold at the 2012 Olympics.

Jalandhar, July 31
Sheru Classic, the first professional bodybuilding and figure championship in Asia will be held on September 24 and 25 at Mumbai, which will witness world famous bodybuilder’s performance.

This was disclosed by Sheru Aangrish, a professional bodybuilder from the subcontinent during a press conference here today.

He said Varinder Singh Ghuman, the only professional card holder from India after him would represent India in this first ever championship. Varinder earned his pro card status earlier this year in Australia by winning Amaetuer Australia and competed in Australian Grand Prix.

Los Angeles, July 31
Somdev Devvarman earned himself a good chance to win his first ever ATP title after reaching the doubles final of the Farmer's Classic along with Treat Conrad Huey with a hard fought three-set win over Israeli pair of Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram here.

The unseeded Indo-Philippine pair, who had shocked the top seeds earlier, edged past the fourth seed Israeli duo 7-6(6), 6-7(8), 10-4 after a close to two-hour battle in the semi-finals of the USD 619,50 tournament. They next face third seed Mark Knowles Bahamas and Xavier Malisse of Belarus.

It is for the first time that Somdev has reached the final of an ATP doubles event.

He has made two singles final so far. He reached final of Chennai Open, his home event, in 2009 and in Johannesburg early this year. Somdev and Huey nosed ahead after a stiff first set, but could not stop their opponents from stretching the match to Super Tie break.

However, they prevailed over the Israelis, scoring points when it mattered most. Somdev's singles campaign had earlier ended with a 4-6, 6-7(7) first round defeat at the hands of Ryan Sweeting of the United States. — PTI

Mumbai, July 31
Mumbai-based TransStadia has signed a 10-year deal with World Series Boxing in Astana, Kazakhstan to own the Indian team in the global tournament.

TransStadia's boxing team will operate out of Mumbai in cooperation with World Series Boxing and the Indian Boxing Federation under AIBA guidelines and best practices using TransStadia's knowledge of sports infrastructure and content development. World Series of Boxing is a property owned by AIBA, the apex body of the sport worldwide.

TransStadia will oversee, host and manage all commercial rights of this sport in India. AIBA and Indian Boxing Federation will partner TransStadia on the technical side of the sport, a company release said today.

Udit Sheth, MD & CEO TransStadia said, "It's time for India to showcase some action in boxing as they are capable of competing at the world level and we are sure our franchise will produce results.” — PTI

BRIEFLY

Sania-Yaroslava in semis
Park: Sania Mirza earned the opportunity to win her third WTA doubles title of the season as she and Yaroslava Shvedova breezed into final of the Citi Open after handing a humiliating 6-0, 6-1 defeat to Shahar Peer and Sloan Stephens here. It took the Indo-Kazakh pair just 35 minutes to dispatch the fourth seeds Israeli-American pair from the semifinals of the $220,000 hard court tournament. — PTI

National U-25 Chess C’ship
Indore: The 20th National Under-25 Chess Championship for boys and girls will be held here from August 21 to 27. The event, which will take place in the city for the first time, will see participation of around 100 players from all over the country, the organisers told reporters here today. The prize money for this championship is Rs 75,000. — PTI

China's Sun Yang competes in the men's 1500m freestyle final at the 14th FINA World Championships in Shanghai on Sunday. — Reuters

Decision on Malik's future
Lahore: Pakistan's former captain Shoaib Malik will know on August 15 whether his international career is over or will be revived. Malik has been told by the Pakistan Cricket Board to appear before its integrity committee on August 15 here along with Test leg-spinner Danish Kaneria. There has been widespread speculation that Malik has been cleared by the integrity committee after he was able to explain how he spent 90,000 pounds that was in one of his bank accounts by submitting all details of his assets and bank statements to the committee sometime back. — PTI

Squash: India finish fourth
New Delhi: Indian girls ended their campaign in the World junior team squash championships on a disappointing note, finishing fourth after losing the bronze medal play-off 1-2 against Hong Kong on the concluding day of the event in Boston, USA. Five-time finalists and two-time defending champions Egypt successfully retained their title defeating hosts USA, making their first-ever World Squash Team Final appearance, 2-1 last night at the Murr Center in Harvard University. — PTI

New Delhi: Gaganjeet Bhullar and Anirban Lahiri, who teamed up to grab a silver medal five years ago at the Asian Games in Doha, will come together again to try and grab a berth in the Omega Mission Hills Golf World Cup later this year. The highly talented duo, who have three wins between them on the Asian Tour, will form the Indian challenge at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup Asian Qualifying next week at the Seri Selangor Golf Club. There will be three berths available from the Asian Qualifying. — PTI