'Durban among toughest wickets I've played' - Laxman

3:46 AM Cricket No Comments

VVS Laxman ranks Durban "up there" with the best wins of his career, especially because on the first day the batsmen had to counter "one of the most challenging wickets I have played on in my career". "If you beat South Africa on definitely the quickest and bounciest wicket in the country, it gives you that much additional joy," Laxman said, a day after India finished the series-levelling 87-run win. "Everyone talks about Durban being the place where South Africa puts the opposition under...

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Restoration work underway at the Maracana

9:14 PM Football No Comments

Anyone wandering into Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium in its current state could be forgiven for thinking that the iconic venue was a thing of the past. Fortunately that is not the case, with the arena that hosted the final match of the 1950 FIFA World Cup™ undergoing a comprehensive overhaul to ensure it is a significantly more modern and comfortable venue in time to welcome another FIFA World Cup, 64 years later.Undoubtedly among the best-known stadiums in world football, the Maracana...

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We won because I quit captaincy - Pietersen

9:07 PM Cricket No Comments

Kevin Pietersen is adamant that England's Ashes success in Australia stems back to his ultimatum with Peter Moores, the former coach, at the beginning of 2009 which led to both men losing their jobs. Pietersen's captaincy stint ended after just three Tests when the relationship with Moores fell apart following the tour of India as England were plunged into crisis. From the wreckage of those days, however, the team have hit new heights including success in the 2009 Ashes, winning the World...

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Haddin backs Clarke as captain

8:49 PM Cricket No Comments

Brad Haddin spent his first full day as Australia's vice-captain insisting Michael Clarke, his new master, is the right man for the top job. A new cricket leader is usually a time for celebration in this country, but Clarke's appointment for Monday's fifth Ashes Test at the SCG has been greeted with extreme caution. Ricky Ponting is missing the match due to a broken finger and Clarke enters the fixture in poor form and with only pockets of public support. None of that matters to Haddin,...

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Leonardo: There's no greater challenge

5:11 AM Football No Comments

Newly appointed Inter Milan coach Leonardo is looking forward to the challenge of reviving the European champions. The Brazilian, who guided arch-rivals AC Milan last season and spent much of his playing career with I Rossoneri, was unveiled by I Nerazzurri today, following the departure of Rafa Benitez. "Inter is a powerful, fascinating and unexpected challenge," Leonardo told a press conference. "I arrive here at one of the biggest clubs in the world, in the most important year of its history,...

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Ryan Corns in USA squad, McGarrell ineligible

4:49 AM Cricket No Comments

Ryan Corns, the player of the tournament at the 2009 Under-19 World Cup Global Qualifier, has been selected in USA's senior squad for the first time, to go to the ICC World Cricket League Division Three (WCL Div. 3). Three other uncapped players - Durale Forrest, Ritesh Kadu and Asif Khan - will also go to the tournament, which will be played in Hong Kong from January 22-29, 2011. Neil McGarrell, the left-arm spinner who has played four Tests for the West Indies, has been ruled ineligible...

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Clarke replaces Ponting as Test captain

1:50 AM Cricket No Comments

Michael Clarke  is Australia's 43rd Test captain after succeeding the injured Ricky Ponting for Monday's fifth Ashes Test in Sydney. Clarke, who has been the deputy since 2008, takes the coveted job at a time when the team is at its nadir and the 29-year-old is in a severe batting rut. Ponting's broken left pinky not only means he may never add to his 152 Tests, but it accelerates the transition to Clarke during a summer in which his performances have indicated he is not ready for the...

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All-round Razzaq flattens New Zealand

1:43 AM Cricket No Comments

Pakistan set New Zealand a challenging total for victory in the third Twenty20 in Christchurch after an explosive opening partnership and some late Abdul Razzaq fireworks propelled them to 183, despite a mini collapse in the middle overs. Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez capitalised on errant lengths from the New Zealand pacemen to get the innings underway, and an 11-ball Razzaq special launched Pakistan to a total that seemed far out of reach, mid-way through the 19th over. Pakistan were...

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Ponting fights for his captaincy

4:49 AM Cricket No Comments

England have retained the Ashes in Australia for the first time in 24 years, after inflicting one of Australia's heaviest losses, with a margin of an innings and 157 runs on the fourth morning at the MCG. It took less than 90 minutes for England to collect the three wickets they needed for victory, and when Tim Bresnan picked up his fourth wicket, an edge behind from Ben Hilfenhaus, the celebrations began. Bresnan finished with 4 for 50 and was mobbed by his team-mates when the final wicket...

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Prince resists India's push for victory

3:47 AM Cricket 1 Comment

A defiant Ashwell Prince stood in the way of India's charge for their second Test win in South Africa. In front of a disappointingly thin crowd at Kingsmead, the venue where India suffered one of their worst-ever Test defeats in 1996, their bowlers rarely bowled a bad delivery on the fourth morning, to put their side in sight of victory. A Sreesanth snorter to Jacques Kallis started South Africa's slide, before two lbws - one a marginal decision and the other a howler - that are sure to refuel...

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