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Australia drop Hughes, Khawaja
Ishant, Zaheer bowl in drawn game
I want to make a difference: Zaheer
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Ranji Trophy
Racism: Suarez banned for 8 games
A file phot of Liverpool's Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez (L) exchanging words with Manchester United's French defender Patrice Evra during their match in Manchester. — AFP
HI seeks Bharat Ratna for Dhyan Chand
Rehman excels as Pak make clean sweep
OYA Motocross starts today
Spain lead rankings for 4th straight year
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Australia drop Hughes, Khawaja
There was speculation that Ponting and senior middle-order batsman Mike Hussey are in line to be axed due to a string of poor performance in the past few months but both of them managed to retain their place in the squad. Tasmanian left-handed opener Ed Cowan and Shaun Marsh, having recovered from his back injury, have been recalled while Hughes and Usman Khawaja have been shown the door. Interestingly, paceman Ben Hilfenhaus has been recalled on the back of his impressive show in Big Bash Twenty20 cricket and better experience vis-a-vis other rookies in the home bowling line-up.
Even though Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc and James Pattinson are part of the squad, Hilfenhaus' experience could be invaluable to the team looking to rein in the likes of Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman. Hilfenhaus set the tongues wagging with his fiery spell for Hobart Hurricanes against Perth Scorchers earlier this week, watched by Australian coach mickey Arthur. Cowan has forced his way into the squad on the back of his four consecutive centuries, including 109 made against the Indians themselves in the three-day match for Chairman's XI at Manuka Oval on Monday. Cowan had an indifferent start to the season but found his rhythm with an unbeaten 91 in a limited overs match. His scores in last few matches have been 4, 134 not out, 145, 10, 65, 145 not out and 109. Marsh has been included as a cover for opener David Warner who too has been troubled by a back injury. Marsh would also need to show his fitness in order to be considered to play the Boxing Day Test. "We see both Phillip Hughes and Usman Khawaja as developing players with bright futures and remaining as players of significance. They are determined, young, men and I know they will work hard to produce compelling performances and push strongly for further consideration," he added. Hilfenhaus has played 17 Tests for Australia and picked up 55 wickets at 34.65. He last played for Australia at Sydney against England at the start of the year. Also included in the team is Daniel Christian who Arthur reckons can turn out to be a genuine all-rounder for the side. Christian, who played for Deccan Chargers in the IPL, is a right-handed paceman and fast bowler and is yet to play a Test or a one-day international. Arthur has been said that since there are back to back Tests at Melbourne, the bowling load can be too much for team's four-pronged attack. Christian could offer relief with his medium-fast overs. — PTI |
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Ishant, Zaheer bowl in drawn game
Canberra, December 21
Regular Test opener David Warner didn't come out to bat in the second innings, troubled as he was with back pain. Earlier, the Indians declared their second innings at 90 for 2 after the hosts, on their part, had declared the first innings at the overnight score of 214 for 7. The two teams decided at the start of the day that they would bat for 30 overs each in their second innings in order to wrap up the game early. Indians would carry mixed feelings from the final day's play as opener Virender Sehwag (8) failed for the second time in the match but heart-warming sight for the tourists was the five-over each spell by new-ball bowlers, Zaheer and Ishant. While Sharma was laid low on the first morning of the two-day game against Chairman's XI last week, after bowling only 5.3 overs, troubled by his left ankle, Zaheer, at best, had bowled only gingerly in the nets and in the ongoing match here. It must be said that both Zaheer and Ishant bowled within themselves, never going full blast Both Ishant and Zaheer were trying to avoid putting too much load on their front legs at the point of delivery. Earlier, Sehwag suffered his second failure of the match as India declared at 90 for 2. Sehwag was out in the second over of the match when he was first startled by a lifting delivery from Peter George before guiding the next delivery into the slip cordon. Sehwag had made 12 runs in the first innings and was caught in the gully region on the first day. Ajinkya Rahane didn't do any better either and after being around for 16 balls, he was caught behind the wicket and had still to trouble the scorers. India, in all, batted for 30 overs in their second innings. Sehwag slammed two fours in left-arm paceman Josh Lalor's second over through the vacant cover region. Left-handed opener Gautam Gambhir stayed put for 42 runs but it must be said a lot of his runs came against the spinners. While the new-ball bowlers operated for the first 14 overs, the duo of Lalor and right-arm quick bowler Peter George, Gambhir did no better than defend or spar at deliveries. Rohit Sharma, on the other hand, was fluent in his knock of 38 off 57 balls with four fours. Gambhir faced 98 balls for his 42 runs with three fours. The two put on 76 unbeaten runs for the third wicket before being called in by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. — PTI
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I want to make a difference: Zaheer
Canberra, December 21 Zaheer, who picked up 10 wickets in three Tests at an average of 40 during previous trips, said he is desperate to make up for the past. "This tour is very important for me," Zaheer, who bowled five overs on the final day of a practice match, said. "I want to be the factor which makes the difference as there are so many expectations on me. The way I see it, it all worked out perfectly fine, because I had a four-month break so I could prepare well for this series," he added. Zaheer said he would ensure that his injury-prone body holds up this time. "In the past, it used to be at the end of the season that I would go to Australia and breakdown. I am really looking forward to joining the team and to playing my part, and also to helping the youngsters and guiding them in whatever way I can," he was quoted as saying by 'Fox Sports'. The 33-year-old pacer has taken 273 wickets from 79 Tests at 31.78. — PTI
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Bipul rescues Punjab
Mumbai, December 21 Sandhu swung the ball both ways right through the day to finish with fine figures of five for 66 and was well-supported by fellow seamer Kshemal Waingankar (3/80), but the hosts failed to tighten the noose around the visitors after having them reeling at 91 for six at lunch at the Wankhede Stadium. Sharma made 68 in six minutes over three hours. He struck five fours and three sixes in his 164-ball essay to help Punjab to a total that looked beyond them when they were 0 for 2 and then 87 for six just before lunch. At stumps, Mumbai had replied with 22 for no loss with openers Kaustubh Pawar (5) and Praful Waghela (12) at the crease. The dismissal of Punjab's batting mainstay of the season Mayank Siddhana for 34, caught in the leg trap off off Ramesh Powar at the stroke of lunch, left only the lower order to rally them around and Bipul did it with support from the tail. Mumbai also missed the presence of Avishkar Salvi who suffered a side strain after bowling just nine balls and dismissing opener Sarul Kanwar for a duck off the second ball. The lanky medium pacer was off the field for the rest of the day and is unlikely to play any further part in the match, according to Mumbai Cricket Association sources. To make matters worse for the home team was the groin injury sustained by wicketkeeper and opener Sushant Marathe who fell to the ground after leaping high to his left to try and stop a bouncer from Waingankar. He too is doubtful for the rest of the four-day tie. — PTI
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Racism: Suarez banned for 8 games
London, December 21 The Uruguayan forward was also fined 40,000 pounds by the FA Tuesday over the incident. Liverpool and Suarez have 14 days to decide whether to appeal against the ban, Xinhua reported. In a statement, the FA said: "An Independent Regulatory Commission has today found a charge of misconduct against Luis Suarez proven, and have issued a suspension for a period of eight matches as well as fining him 40,000 pounds, pending appeal." "I was very upset," Evra said. "In 2011 you can't say things like this. He knows what he said, the ref knows it, it will come out. "I won't repeat what he said, but it was a racist word, and he said it more than ten times. He tried to wind me up. I won't make a huge deal out of it, but it is very upsetting and disappointing." The commission's ruling stated: "Mr Suarez used insulting words towards Mr Evra during the match contrary to FA Rule E3(1); "The insulting words used by Mr Suarez included a reference to Mr Evra's colour within the meaning of Rule E3(2); "Mr Suarez shall be warned as to his future conduct, be suspended for eight matches covering all first team competitive matches. "The (penalty) is suspended pending the outcome of any appeal lodged by Mr Suarez against this decision." Suarez always denied the charge and Liverpool were firm in support of their player, with manager Kenny Dalglish saying last week: "We are standing right beside him and helping him as much as we possibly can." — IANS
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HI seeks Bharat Ratna for Dhyan Chand
New Delhi, December 21
Dhyan Chand had been hailed even by Hitler for his virtuoso display in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. When he took possession of the ball, the ball virtually got glued to his stick, till he gave a logical finish to the move -- invariably ending in goals. Posters had sprung up all over Berlin, saying: “Visit the hockey stadium to watch the Indian magician Maj. Dhyan Chand in action”. Hitler had even offered Dhyan Chand German citizenship and the rank of Colonel, if he played for Germany, but Dhyan Chand declined the offer. The German authorities also broke his hockey stick, to check whether there was a magnet inside! Ever since the Union Home Ministry agreed to consider Sports Minster Ajay Maken’s request to include sports icons among in the eligibility category for the Bharat Ratna, the names of Dhyan Chand and Sachin Tendulkar cropped up as strong candidates, though the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) also staked its claim for the award for Abhinav Bindra, who had shot a gold in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the first Indian to strike an Olympic individual gold. A strong lobby has been propping up the name of Tendulkar, though players like Mahendra Singh Dhoni or Kapil Dev also merit consideration. Dhoni has emerged as one of the most successful Indian captains in all forms of cricket - Test, ODI and T20 - and also lifted the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 and the 2011 ODI World Cup. Kapil Dev had brought home the trophy in 1983. There have been other sporting greats like ‘Flying Sikh’ Milkha Singh, hockey ace Ajit Pal Singh etc., who deserve the honour. Milkha’s deeds were legendary, while Ajit Pal Singh had the distinction of winning the World Cup in 1975 at Kuala Lumpur - a singular feat which no other Indian hockey captain has been able to replicate. Dhyan Chand has been termed as the greatest hockey player the world had seen, with 1000 international goals to his credit. “There is no deserving sporting icon other than Major Dhyan Chand to be considered for the Bharat Ratna,” HI said in its communication to the Government. It pointed out that his international playing career started in 1926 and lasted till 1948, when he turned 42. “In 1926, on his first international tour, India played 21 matches in New Zealand, scoring 192 goals, with Maj. Dhyan Chand alone accounting for over 100 goals,” HI noted. It has reminded the Government that August 29, the hockey legend’s birthday, is celebrated as the National Sports Day when the President of India honours top sportspersons/institutions with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Dronacharya, Arjuna, Tensing Norgay, Dhyan Chand and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy awards. India’s only world-standard hockey stadium, the National Stadium in Delhi, has also been named after Dhyan Chand, making him the fittest candidate to deserve the Bharat Ratna. HI hoped that the Government would consider giving the next Bharat Ratna to Dhyan Chand, as he was one of a kind.
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Rehman excels as Pak make clean sweep
Dhaka, December 21 Pakistan, who won the first Test in Chittagong by an innings and 184 runs, achieved their 103-run victory target off just 20.5 overs in the last session of the fifth day's play at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium. Opener Mohammad Hafeez smashed a 52-ball 47 and Azhar Ali contributed 34, before skipper Misbah-ul-Haq finished the match with a six over long-off against Elias Sunny. Bangladesh, trailing by 132 runs after the first innings, had been comfortably placed at 212-5 in their second innings but collapsed to 234, with left-arm spinner Rehman taking three wickets and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal two. Rehman's four-wicket haul was his best in 12 Tests. Nasir Hossain (79) and skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (53) defied the Pakistani attack for more than a session, adding 117 for the sixth wicket before falling in the space of nine runs. Rehman removed both the well-set batsmen in four overs before accounting for Shahadat Hossain (one) in the afternoon session. — AFP
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OYA Motocross starts today
Chandigarh, December 21 Maintaining this commitment the 3rd edition of this event has been named "JK Tyre OYA Autocross & Motocross 2011" and it will be held on December 22-24 at the ground opposite YPS Sector 51, Mohali. The event is being organized under the aeiges of Team Chandigarh Adventure Sports. Rally drivers Sunny Sidhu, Suresh Rana, Harpreet Bawa, Capt Pandey, Anil Wadia have already confirmed their participation as also rally teams Team Thunderbolt, Team Perfect Rallying, Stallion Motorsports and Rajasthan Riders. |
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Spain lead rankings for 4th straight year
Zurich, December 21 There was no movement among the leading 19 teams after a month in which only six competitive internationals were played, all involving lower-ranked teams. The Netherlands remained second, ahead of Germany, Uruguay and England. Brazil, Portugal, Croatia, Italy and Argentina round out the top 10. Bosnia-Herzegovina moved up three places to an all-time high of 20, while Panama (49), Estonia (57) and American Samoa (186) also hit best-ever positions. American Samoa's 18-place climb was down to the tiny Pacific state's first World Cup qualifying win. Wales was the highest climber of 2011, gaining 64 places to No. 48 by the end of the year. Ivory Coast remained Africa's top team at No. 16, with Mexico ranked highest of the CONCACAF sides at No. 21. Japan at No. 19 took the honors for Asia, with New Zealand at No. 119 the best of Oceania's teams. — AP |
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Rahul Prasad slams century
Saina out of Syed Modi GP Dempo keen on top spot Lajong-United tie drawn NBA broadcast schedules
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London, December 21
Canberra, December 21
All-rounder Shane Watson and fast bowler Ryan Harris were not picked due to continued worries on the fitness front. Watson aggravated his calf injury on the first day of the batting camp in Melbourne yesterday while Harris indicated he was not entirely fit after playing for Brisbane Heat at Gabba last night. Chief selector John Inverarity, while announcing the squad said, "Ed Cowan has been in excellent form in recent weeks. His inclusion is in recognition of his consistently good performances and we anticipate that he can provide steadiness at the top of the order. Ben Hilfenhaus has regained for this season and he provides and strong and reliable bowling option.
