WWE.The.Worlds.Greatest.Wrestling.Managers.Extras. DVDRip.Xvid-ATW

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Extras

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usain bolt 100m wr 08 bejing olympics

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hansie cronjie film set to release

hansie cronjie film set to release
Film tracing Hansie Cronje's life set for release
Source - http://www.timesofindia.com.
A film based on the life of late South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje, who fell from grace in the 2000 match-fixing scandal, is all set to release next month.

Directed by Cronje's brother Frans, 'Hansie' chronicles the former skipper's life, that met a tragic end when he died in a plane crash in 2002, completed filming on Monday.

The film opens on September 24 in Africa and is also slated to have an international release on later date.

The film's DVD is also ready and features a documentary on Hansie and interviews of some of his former team-mates including current India coach Gary Kirsten, Jonty Rhodes, Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Peter Pollock, Andrew Hudson and England's newly-appointed captain Kevin Pietersen.

'Hansie' was shot in South Africa, England and India and Frans said, the film looks at the cricketer's "internal journey from stardom to losing everything and then the journey to rebuilding his life."

Frans described the filming an emotional experience and singled out the sequence on Hansie's deposition before the King's Commission, during which he broke down while admitting his role in match fixing, as the most excruciating moment.

"He was very emotional and my dad and I were crying with him. When we filmed this, it was like seeing the real event happen again. The acting in this scene was really magnificent," Frans said.

"While filming, I just sat there with tears in my eyes. Fortunately, when I looked around me, I realised that everyone else on the sets were crying as well," he added.

The film took a year to complete and Frans said it was "It was incredibly tough. In a sense, it felt like I went through my own 'King Commission' at a stage."

South African actor Francois Rautenbach will play Hansie in the movie.

Cricket South Africa endorses and supported the movie after gong through its screenplay "to ensure that the story is told with integrity".

"The International Cricket Council were happy for us to continue, knowing that the CSA endorsed it," Frans said.

"I think they were happy to see that we did not choose to try and uncover any more match-fixing dirt. Rather, we chose to tell the story of Hansie's internal journey," he added.

percy abetsekera cheering srilanka for 50 years and watching don bradman play cricket

percy abetsekera cheering srilanka for 50 years and watching don bradman play cricket
Cheering Lanka for 50 years & watching Bradman play
Source - http://www.timesofindia.com.
Percy Abeysekera has been with the Sri Lankan team for the last 50 years, cheering them in every game. He is one of those fortunate enough to have seen Don Bradman bat at the P Sara Oval in Colombo.

"It was in 1948 and the Australian was playing a practice match against Ceylon on the team's way to England. I have seen Bradman play and I consider myself very fortunate," Percy told TOI here at the Galle International Stadium.

"I don't like Twenty20 cricket and the young girls scantily dressed as cheerleaders. Both India and Sri Lanka have a rich culture and it's not good for the public as well," he added.

Percy has penned a song for Muttiah Muralitharan, which goes like this: "Murli the greatest bowler the world has seen. To have in Sri Lankan fold how lucky we have been. To the noble game of cricket you add so much charm. Most strength to your mighty elbow and to your golden arm."

Chaminda gets 400 wickets in one dayers

Sri Lanka's Chaminda Vaas joins 400-wicket club
Source - http://www.timesofindia.com.
Sri Lanka's Chaminda Vaas on Wednesday became the fourth bowler to complete 400 wickets in one-day internationals, achieving the feat during the fourth match against India here.

The left-arm seamer had Yuvraj Singh caught by Mahela Jayawardene at short mid-wicket to join retired Pakistani pace duo of Wasim Akram (502) and Waqar Younis (416), and compatriot Muttiah Muralitharan (478) in the 400-club.

Vaas, 34, is also the only bowler in the world to grab eight wickets in a One-Day International, finishing with 8-19 off eight overs against Zimbabwe in Colombo in 2001.

He has grabbed two hat-tricks in 322 One-Day Internationals - against Zimbabwe in Colombo seven years ago and Bangladesh in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

Vaas has taken five or more wickets in an innings four times since making his One-day debut against India in 1994.

He has also bagged 348 wickets in 107 Tests.

Chaminda Vaas

Sri Lanka

Player profile

Full name Warnakulasuriya Patabendige Ushantha Joseph Chaminda Vaas
Born January 27, 1974, Mattumagala
Current age 34 years 213 days
Major teams Sri Lanka, Asia XI, Basnahira North, Colts Cricket Club, Deccan Chargers, Hampshire, Middlesex, Worcestershire
Batting style Left-hand bat
Bowling style Left-arm fast-medium

Bowling averages Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10
ODIs 322 320 15775 11014 400 8/19 8/19 27.53 4.18 39.4 9 4 0
T20Is 6 6 132 128 6 2/14 2/14 21.33 5.81 22.0 0 0 0
Tests 107 187 22664 10201 348 7/71 14/191 29.31 2.70 65.1 20 12



Sri Lanka celebrate Chaminda Vaas' 400th ODI wicket, Sri Lanka v India, 4th ODI, Colombo, August 27, 2008

missing 4 runs of bradman found

Bradman's 'missing' 4 runs found!
Source - http://www.sify.com.
Sixty years after Sir Don Bradman ended his Test career with a batting average of 99.94, a cricket statistician claims that he has found the "missing" four runs that would take the Australian legend's average to the magical 100 mark.

"Don Bradman's Test average - 99.94 runs per dismissal - is entrenched in Australian folklore, and the story of the Don's final innings, out for a duck when just four runs would have taken his average to 100, has been told countless times.

"Just four runs, spread over a career of almost 20 years and more than 197 hours at the crease. It is worth asking: just how sure can we be that the number is correct?" statistician Charles Davis wrote in The Sydney Morning Herald.

"As it happens, my recent research has shown that it could be wrong: a tantalising clue to four missing runs has been found," he claimed.

Davis said he has found the "missing four runs" of Sir Don, who passed away in 2001, in some previously undiscovered Test statistics after extensive research.

"In the scorebook of the epic eight-day fifth Test of 1928-29 against England in Melbourne, won by Australia by five wickets, there is a "problem" boundary in the final stages, when Bradman was batting with Jack Ryder," he elaborates.

"The relevant sections of Bill Ferguson's original score are illustrated: there are four runs attributed to Ryder that are in the wrong place in both the batting section of the score and in the bowling section (Maurice Tate's 35th over). There is no doubt that a recording error of some kind has occurred. So where do these runs belong?," he asked.

Marshall gets highest sixes vs canada in one dayers

Marshall breaks sixes record in West Indies win
Source - http://www.cricinfo.com.

Scotiabank Series - 3rd match
Canada v West Indies 2008 season

Played at Maple Leaf North-West Ground, King City, on 22 August 2008 (50-over match)
Result West Indies won by 49 runs

West Indies innings (50 overs maximum) R M B 4s 6s SR
S Chattergoon c Samad b Rizwan Cheema 20 55 42 4 0 47.61
CH Gayle c Samad b Katchay 19 41 26 3 0 73.07
LR Johnson c Bagai b Rizwan Cheema 51 88 77 3 1 66.23
XM Marshall not out 157 131 118 11 12 133.05
SE Findlay c & b Rizwan Cheema 9 8 9 0 1 100.00
BP Nash not out 39 42 28 6 0 139.28
Extras (lb 5, w 3) 8
Total (4 wickets; 50 overs) 303 (6.06 runs per over)
Did not bat JE Taylor, DBL Powell, KAJ Roach, D Mohammed, CS Baugh
Fall of wickets1-38 (Gayle, 10.4 ov), 2-50 (Chattergoon, 13.4 ov), 3-178 (Johnson, 36.1 ov), 4-192 (Findlay, 38.3 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ
E Katchay 10 3 25 1 2.50
HS Baidwan 10 0 77 0 7.70 (1w)
Rizwan Cheema 10 1 31 3 3.10
K Jethi 5 0 43 0 8.60 (2w)
S Dhaniram 8 0 52 0 6.50
RR David 3 0 20 0 6.66
AS Faridi 1 0 17 0 17.00
AM Samad 3 0 33 0 11.00

Canada innings (target: 304 runs from 50 overs) R M B 4s 6s SR
Mohammad Iqbal c Baugh b Taylor 4 23 10 0 0 40.00
Rizwan Cheema c Powell b Nash 89 77 69 10 6 128.98
A Bagai lbw b Roach 22 62 47 3 0 46.80
AM Samad c Findlay b Nash 25 46 32 3 0 78.12
RR David lbw b Powell 6 22 20 1 0 30.00
S Dhaniram b Nash 22 28 23 3 0 95.65
AA Mulla run out (Baugh) 15 15 17 1 1 88.23
K Jethi st Baugh b Mohammed 23 25 21 4 0 109.52
HS Baidwan not out 23 35 33 1 0 69.69
E Katchay st Baugh b Mohammed 3 9 7 0 0 42.85
AS Faridi b Chattergoon 3 9 6 0 0 50.00
Extras (lb 5, w 12, nb 2) 19
Total (all out; 47.2 overs) 254 (5.36 runs per over)
Fall of wickets1-33 (Mohammad Iqbal, 4.4 ov), 2-126 (Rizwan Cheema, 18.6 ov), 3-129 (Bagai, 20.5 ov), 4-148 (David, 27.2 ov), 5-177 (Samad, 31.4 ov), 6-200 (Dhaniram, 35.4 ov), 7-202 (Mulla, 36.5 ov), 8-234 (Jethi, 42.2 ov), 9-243 (Katchay, 44.5 ov), 10-254 (Faridi, 47.2 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ
JE Taylor 9 0 56 1 6.22 (2w)
DBL Powell 8 0 40 1 5.00 (1nb, 5w)
D Mohammed 10 0 34 2 3.40
KAJ Roach 8 0 49 1 6.12 (1nb)
BP Nash 10 1 56 3 5.60 (1w)
CH Gayle 2 0 13 0 6.50
S Chattergoon 0.2 0 1 1 3.00

Toss West Indies, who chose to bat first
Points West Indies 2, Canada 0
Player of the match XM Marshall (West Indies)
Umpires R Dill (Bermuda) and DB Hair (Australia)
Match referee RS Madugalle (Sri Lanka)
Reserve umpire AKL Brijcoomar

13.4 Rizwan Cheema to Chattergoon, OUT, soft dismissal, he popped it up to to covers
S Chattergoon c Samad b Rizwan Cheema 20 (55m 42b 4x4 0x6) SR: 47.61
Marshall is the new man in
List of Fours - (11)
15.6 Rizwan Cheema to Marshall, FOUR, Driven away, no chance to cut that one off
18.4 Katchay to Marshall, FOUR, lofts him over mid-on
20.6 Jethi to Marshall, FOUR, straight drive between, long on and long off
25.3 Rizwan Cheema to Marshall, FOUR, blazing cover drive, crowd comes alive
26.1 Jethi to Marshall, FOUR, cover drives it, Jethi struggling
26.2 Jethi to Marshall, FOUR, another boundary in the same area
26.4 Jethi to Marshall, FOUR, square drives it past point for another boundary
32.5 David to Marshall, FOUR, sweeps it fine of square leg
34.4 Faridi to Marshall, FOUR, hit hard and flat down the ground, Long Off had no chance, one bounce for four
46.5 Samad to Marshall, FOUR, reverse sweeps it for 4 this time
48.4 Jethi to Marshall, FOUR, reverse sweeps it again

List of Sixes - (12)
25.1 Rizwan Cheema to Marshall, SIX, Lifts it over long-on into the car park
28.4 David to Marshall, SIX, steps out and just lifts him over mid-wicket
31.4 Dhaniram to Marshall, SIX, slog sweep, just clears mid wicket
34.2 Faridi to Marshall, SIX, lofts him over mid-wicket
34.5 Faridi to Marshall, SIX, slog sweeps this time out of the ground
45.6 Dhaniram to Marshall, SIX, down the ground, over the club house, that was the biggest hit of the tournament
46.3 Samad to Marshall, SIX, Huge hit, over long on, intot the bushes, we have a lost ball
46.4 Samad to Marshall, SIX, slog sweeps it this time into the same area, just clears long on
47.6 Baidwan to Marshall, SIX, flicks it over long on for a 6, on the pavillion roof
48.5 Jethi to Marshall, SIX, slogs it over long on, into the bushes again, 2 lost balls now
49.3 Baidwan to Marshall, SIX, steps out, heaves it over mid-wicket, into the NE ground
49.6 Baidwan to Marshall, SIX, over long

Marshall Vs Various Players -
XM Marshall - 1st innings v Bowler 0s 1s 2s 3s 4s 5s 6s 7+ Dismissal Runs Balls SR
E Katchay 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 5 2 250.00
HS Baidwan 2 7 1 0 0 0 3 0 27 13 207.69
Rizwan Cheema 25 7 0 0 2 0 1 0 21 35 60.00
K Jethi 6 3 1 0 5 0 1 0 31 16 193.75
S Dhaniram 15 7 2 0 0 0 2 0 23 26 88.46
RR David 7 3 0 0 1 0 1 0 13 12 108.33
AS Faridi 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 16 5 320.00
AM Samad 2 3 1 0 1 0 2 0 21 9 233.33

Partnerships - West Indies innings Wkt Runs Overs RR Player Player Start End
1st 38 10.4 3.56 CH Gayle S Chattergoon - 1/38 (10.4)
2nd 12 3.0 4.00 S Chattergoon LR Johnson 1/38 (10.4) 2/50 (13.4)
3rd 128 22.3 5.68 LR Johnson XM Marshall 2/50 (13.4) 3/178 (36.1)
4th 14 2.2 6.00 SE Findlay XM Marshall 3/178 (36.1) 4/192 (38.3)
5th 111* 11.3 9.65 BP Nash XM Marshall 4/192 (38.3) 4/303 (50.0)

West Indies batting averages - One-Day Internationals Player Span Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 0 4s 6s
CS Baugh 2003-2008 27 19 7 186 29 15.50 268 69.40 0 0 1 15 6
S Chattergoon 2006-2008 10 9 1 270 54* 33.75 408 66.17 0 2 1 42 3
SE Findlay 2008-2008 4 4 1 118 59* 39.33 132 89.39 0 1 0 10 5
CH Gayle 1999-2008 185 180 12 6506 153* 38.72 8110 80.22 15 37 16 784 106
LR Johnson 2008-2008 2 2 0 78 51 39.00 105 74.28 0 1 0 8 1
XM Marshall 2005-2008 17 17 1 313 157* 19.56 441 70.97 1 0 3 31 13
D Mohammed 2006-2008 6 1 1 0 0* - 2 0.00 0 0 0 0 0
BP Nash 2008-2008 2 2 2 66 39* - 90 73.33 0 0 0 9 0
DBL Powell 2002-2008 46 20 3 107 48* 6.29 147 72.78 0 0 6 4 5
KAJ Roach 2008-2008 2 - - - - - - - - - - - -
JE Taylor 2003-2008 49 19 7 133 43* 11.08 135 98.51 0 0 1 11 4

West Indies bowling averages - One-Day Internationals Player Span Mat Inns Overs Mdns Runs Wkts BBI Ave Econ SR 4 5 Ct St
CS Baugh 2003-2008 27 - - - - - - - - - - - 15 4
S Chattergoon 2006-2008 10 3 9.2 0 37 1 1/1 37.00 3.96 56.0 0 0 3 0
SE Findlay 2008-2008 4 - - - - - - - - - - - 2 0
CH Gayle 1999-2008 185 155 1031.2 36 4839 149 5/46 32.47 4.69 41.5 3 1 85 0
LR Johnson 2008-2008 2 - - - - - - - - - - - 0 0
XM Marshall 2005-2008 17 2 1.3 0 6 0 - - 4.00 - 0 0 9 0
D Mohammed 2006-2008 6 5 48.5 3 204 10 3/37 20.40 4.17 29.3 0 0 1 0
BP Nash 2008-2008 2 2 20.0 2 99 4 3/56 24.75 4.95 30.0 0 0 0 0
DBL Powell 2002-2008 46 46 404.0 34 1849 58 4/27 31.87 4.57 41.7 2 0 9 0
KAJ Roach 2008-2008 2 2 18.0 1 78 3 2/29 26.00 4.33 36.0 0 0 0 0
JE Taylor 2003-2008 49 49 426.5 24 1995 72 5/48 27.70 4.67 35.5 3 1 14 0

Most sixes in an innings

Player Runs Balls 4s 6s SR Team Opposition Ground Match Date Scorecard
XM Marshall 157* 118 11 12 133.05 West Indies v Canada King City (NW) 22 Aug 2008 ODI # 2749
ST Jayasuriya 134 65 11 11 206.15 Sri Lanka v Pakistan Singapore 2 Apr 1996 ODI # 1088
Shahid Afridi 102 40 6 11 255.00 Pakistan v Sri Lanka Nairobi (Gym) 4 Oct 1996 ODI # 1125
MS Dhoni 183* 145 15 10 126.20 India v Sri Lanka Jaipur 31 Oct 2005 ODI # 2290
MV Boucher 147* 68 8 10 216.17 South Africa v Zimbabwe Potchefstroom 20 Sep 2006 ODI # 2420
ML Hayden 181* 166 11 10 109.03 Australia v New Zealand Hamilton 20 Feb 2007 ODI # 2527
BB McCullum 166 135 11 10 122.96 New Zealand v Ireland Aberdeen 1 Jul 2008 ODI # 2727
Ijaz Ahmed 139* 84 10 9 165.47 Pakistan v India Lahore 2 Oct 1997 ODI # 1236
Shahid Afridi 102 46 10 9 221.73 Pakistan v India Kanpur 15 Apr 2005 ODI # 2239
L Vincent 172 120 16 9 143.33 New Zealand v Zimbabwe Bulawayo 24 Aug 2005 ODI # 2272
RT Ponting 164 105 13 9 156.19 Australia v South Africa Johannesburg 12 Mar 2006 ODI # 2349
CG Greenidge 117 123 7 8 95.12 West Indies v India St John's 18 Mar 1989 ODI # 562
RL Powell 124 93 9 8 133.33 West Indies v India Singapore 8 Sep 1999 ODI # 1496
Shahid Afridi 108* 92 7 8 117.39 Pakistan v New Zealand Sharjah 15 Apr 2002 ODI # 1831
Yousuf Youhana 76* 34 3 8 223.52 Pakistan v Zimbabwe Bulawayo 24 Nov 2002 ODI # 1901
RT Ponting 140* 121 4 8 115.70 Australia v India Johannesburg 23 Mar 2003 ODI # 1993
A Symonds 156 127 12 8 122.83 Australia v New Zealand Wellington 7 Dec 2005 ODI # 2302
Imran Nazir 160 121 14 8 132.23 Pakistan v Zimbabwe Kingston 21 Mar 2007 ODI # 2547
AC Gilchrist 149 104 13 8 143.26 Australia v Sri Lanka Bridgetown 28 Apr 2007 ODI # 2581
IVA Richards 181 125 16 7 144.80 West Indies v Sri Lanka Karachi 13 Oct 1987 ODI # 457
IVA Richards 110* 77 7 7 142.85 West Indies v India Rajkot 5 Jan 1988 ODI # 487
SR Tendulkar 100 89 5 7 112.35 India v Australia Kanpur 7 Apr 1998 ODI # 1308
CL Cairns 115 80 7 7 143.75 New Zealand v India Christchurch 19 Jan 1999 ODI # 1387
DJ Cullinan 94 56 5 7 167.85 South Africa v New Zealand Auckland 27 Mar 1999 ODI # 1422
SC Ganguly 183 158 17 7 115.82 India v Sri Lanka Taunton 26 May 1999 ODI # 1463
RL Powell 76 73 3 7 104.10 West Indies v India Toronto 14 Sep 1999 ODI # 1499
AC Gilchrist 128 98 9 7 130.61 Australia v New Zealand Christchurch 26 Feb 2000 ODI # 1569
SC Ganguly 135* 124 6 7 108.87 India v Bangladesh Dhaka 30 May 2000 ODI # 1597
Shahid Afridi 83 44 6 7 188.63 Pakistan v Bangladesh Dhaka 25 Jan 2002 ODI # 1794
Abdul Razzaq 76* 53 2 7 143.39 Pakistan v Zimbabwe Sharjah 3 Apr 2003 ODI # 1994
RT Ponting 108* 103 1 7 104.85 Australia v India Bangalore 12 Nov 2003 ODI # 2061
A Flintoff 123 104 8 7 118.26 England v West Indies Lord's 6 Jul 2004 ODI # 2140
CD McMillan 64* 27 2 7 237.03 New Zealand v U.S.A. The Oval 10 Sep 2004 ODI # 2169
JM Kemp 80 50 4 7 160.00 South Africa v England East London 9 Feb 2005 ODI # 2224
HH Gibbs 175 111 21 7 157.65 South Africa v Australia Johannesburg 12 Mar 2006 ODI # 2349
JM Kemp 100* 89 6 7 112.35 South Africa v India Cape Town 26 Nov 2006 ODI # 2449
E Chigumbura 77* 57 1 7 135.08 Zimbabwe v Bangladesh Harare 10 Feb 2007 ODI # 2518
HH Gibbs 72 40 4 7 180.00 South Africa v Netherlands Basseterre 16 Mar 2007 ODI # 2537
BJ Hodge 123 89 8 7 138.20 Australia v Netherlands Basseterre 18 Mar 2007 ODI # 2540
Yuvraj Singh 83 46 3 7 180.43 India v Bermuda Port of Spain 19 Mar 2007 ODI # 2542
ST Jayasuriya 109 87 7 7 125.28 Sri Lanka v Bangladesh Port of Spain 21 Mar 2007 ODI # 2546
JM Kemp 86 76 3 7 113.15 Africa XI v Asia XI Chennai 10 Jun 2007 ODI # 2589
HH Gibbs 119 101 10 7 117.82 South Africa v New Zealand Cape Town 2 Dec 2007 ODI # 2652

Lightning gets 3rd gold in Olympics....

The world's fastest man Lightning Usain Bolt collected his third Olympic gold medal when he helped Jamaica smash the world record to win the men's 4x100 metres relay final on Friday. ( Watch )

Bolt, who won the 100 and 200 finals in world record times, teamed up with Nesta Carter, Michael Frater and Asafa Powell to clock 37.10 seconds, slashing 0.30 off the mark set by the United States at the 1993 world championships.

Trinidad and Tobago finished second in 38.06, about 10 metres behind their Caribbean neighbours, and Japan were third in 38.15.

Britain, the US and Nigeria, the medallists in Athens four years ago, missed out on the final after mistakes in the heats, leaving Jamaica as overwhelming favourites for gold.

While Jamaica's men cruised to victory, their women's 4x100 relay team missed out on a medal after failing to get the baton round, allowing Russia to take a surprise gold.

Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart, joint silver medallists in the individual 100, over-ran the second changeover and with the US failing to make the final the race was suddenly wide open.

Russia charged through to win in 42.31 with Belgium grabbing an unlikely second and Nigeria picking up the bronze.

"There's no reason for us to be disappointed because we've been having a great Olympics," Stewart said.

"Maybe it was Russia's destiny to get the gold medal, you never know what God is meaning."

There were no mistakes for the Jamaican men as they handed over seamlessly with Bolt running the third leg and Powell, the former world record holder, sprinting clear on the last.

sachin 1st interview 1989

	Code: http://www.ziddu.com/download.php?uid=cbKil5mparGaluKnaaqhkZSrZquZmpqs9

Sachin pulls Caddick Wisden Moment-2003.

Code:

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Munaf Patel Fined

Munaf Patel, the Indian fast bowler, has been fined 75% of his match fee for a breach of the ICC Code of Conduct during the second ODI against Sri Lanka in Dambulla.

Munaf was found guilty of a Level 2 offence by match referee Chris Broad at a hearing following the conclusion of the match which India won by three wickets. Munaf was found to have breached clause 2.8 of the Code which refers to "using language that is obscene, offensive or of a seriously insulting nature to another player, umpire, referee, team official or spectator."

The incident related to remarks made by the player to umpire Gamini Silva after the official turned down an lbw appeal. During the course of the hearing Munaf pleaded not guilty to the charge but did admit to speaking aggressively to the umpire.

"I accept that in international cricket there is a lot of passion but that does not excuse players talking back to umpires in an aggressive manner, as happened in this case," Broad said. "That is unacceptable and I hope this decision and the fine imposed demonstrates that fact."

The charge was laid by the four umpires on duty, Gamini Silva and Billy Doctrove, third official Tyron Wijewardena and fourth umpire RD Kottahachchi. The hearing was attended by Silva, Doctrove and Wijewardena, the player, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India's captain, and Indian team manager Sanjay Desai.

Virender sehwag out of one day series in srilanka

Injured Sehwag is ruled out of series
Source - http://www.mailtoday.in. Choose e paper. Go to page 47. Read the article Injured Sehwag is ruled out of series.

INDIAN opener Virender Sehwag, who twisted his ankle while practicing on Sunday, will leave Sri Lanka and not participate further in the series.

A top source in the Indian team said that in all probability the Delhi batsman will be flying back home and no replacement will be sought.

Sehwag, the only Indian batsman to show any kind of form during the Tests, missed the first ODI due to the injury on Monday and his departure will be a setback for the Indians, who are trailing the five match series 0- 1 after losing the first match by eight wickets.

" He ( Sehwag) is still in the hotel. It was quite bad yesterday.

We will get to know soon," Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni told reporters at the post- match press conference.

Reflecting on the loss, the Indian captain said that he failed to read the wicket and admitted that his decision to bat after winning the toss wasn't right.

“ To start with, we misread the wicket a bit. We did not think it would seam or swing that much.

Of course, since the breeze was strong we expected it to swing throughout the day which it did,” Dhoni said.

At the start of the series, the focus was on Sri Lanka's mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis, who had picked up a world record 26 wickets in three Tests, but on Monday it was against the seamers that the Indians struggled as they lost four early wickets.

“ They got the first two batsmen out, it was not like the batsmen played bad shots and got out. Credit goes to their fast bowlers, they got wickets. Later on, Mendis put the pressure.

The only thing we were doing was to catch up and it gets really tough in one- day games if you lose too many wickets up front,” he added.

Mendis then came on and claimed three wickets in nine overs with four maidens giving away only 21 runs. Muttiah Muralitharan also picked up three wickets.

“ Murali and Mendis are different bowlers. Murali can turn the ball on any sort of wicket, he loves Sri Lankan wickets. Even when he bowls fast, he gets some purchase out of the wicket. If it was any other spinner apart from Murali and Mendis, they wouldn't have got so much turn. There was a bit and when you are in a good position, you can exploit that,” Dhoni added.

So according to me another major setback to India as Sachin Tendulkar was already out of the series and now Virender Sehwag is also out of the one day series. So India will definately lose the series.

Critical series for youngsters

It’s so easy to get overwhelmed by the disaster that overtook India in the Test series but the beauty of cricket is things can change overnight. A few of the advantages I can straightaway see with the Indian one-day squad is the athleticism and speed which the youngsters will bring across the turf. The daredevilry, so shockingly missing from the Test squad, will hopefully be exhibited by the younger lot and it can make a world of difference. Also I have always believed India tend to play better in one day series where they are more relaxed with the cushion of games in hand as opposed to a triangular with a final that becomes the all important game.

The biggest issue the Indians had in the Tests was the lack of initiative from the batsmen in taking on Ajantha Mendis and Muthiah Muralitharan. Openers Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag were the exceptions and the figures bear out their relative success. Indeed, they were a principal component in India staying alive till the final Test, or it could well have been 3-0 at the end of the series.

It will be a critical series for India’s youngsters many of whom are trying to establish themselves. Robin Uthappa is cooling his heels at home and the inclusion of two young faces, Virat Kohli and Badrinath, are enough to keep everyone on their toes.

Big test for masters of spin

For the better part of the tour, the focus of the Indians has been on a certain cricketer answering the name of Ajantha Mendis. Since their debacle in the Asia Cup final where an unknown Mendis spun a web of intrigue around them with astonishing figures of six for 13, the Indians have become obsessed with this mystery spinner. Being acknowledged masters of spin, it must have indeed hurt to come up short in their primary vocation, batting.

With the five-match one-day series set to begin from Monday, the Indians flexed their muscles against a Sri Lankan XI in Colombo on Friday; it was an outing that is sure to give them a lot of confidence and they must be chuffed with their performance.

The recent record of the Indians in one-day tournaments isn’t all that bad; they have been winning a few but unfortunately have lost the crucial ones. The Bangladesh tri-series final and the Asia Cup final are moot points that Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men are unable to lift themselves up in crunch situations.

With a canny opponent in Sri Lanka, the Indians can’t afford to take chances. Mahela Jayawardena’s outfit fight with a tigerish zeal and their record at home is nothing if not outstanding.

They have always believed in squeezing the life out of their rivals on pitches of slow and low spin and most visiting teams will readily agree that tackling the Lankans on their turf is one huge task. Mendis, Muttiah Muralitharan and the old warhorse Sanath Jaysuriya can be real bottlenecks in these kind of stifling conditions.

It’s exactly why the Indian batsmen must get a grip with the proceedings. Save for the opening pair of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, the visitors batting struggled in the Test series and seen in that context, Yuvraj Singh’s glorious hundred in the warm-up match must have come as a relief for Dhoni.

Having said that, it was a bit surprising that they chose to send in Virat Kohli as an opener when in reality, the youngster, if he does get a look-in, will only make up the middle-order.

Given Sehwag and Gambhir’s success ratio and coupled with the injury enforced absence of Sachin Tendulkar, Kohli, if he is to be blooded ahead of the seasoned Subramaniam Badrinath, will only find a place after the Rainas and Yuvrajs.

Given the nature of the warm-up contest, the Indians would have done well to try out both Badrinath and Kohli before making a decision: like Sehwag, Gambhir could also have done with a bit of rest but it appears as if Dhoni’s decision is already made. Low, moderate scores will be par for the course at the Rangiri Dambulla stadium where the first two matches will be held. Interestingly, the matches here used to be day-night affairs a couple of years ago, but with the ball seemingly doing quite a bit in the latter part of the innings, the authorities have decided to do away with day and night matches. It all boils down to how the Indians respond to the Lankan spin trio: the masters of spin need to show that all is well and alive in their cricketing world.

Tackling Mendis will go a long way in assuaging the feelings and setting up the series for Dhoni’s young team.

A start has to be made. The sooner the bette

ALL Sachin lovers....

" Beneath the helmet, under that unruly curly hair, inside the cranium, there is something we don't know, something beyond scientific measure. Something that allows him to soar, to roam a territory of sport that, forget us, even those who are gifted enough to play alongside him cannot even fathom. When he goes out to bat, people switch on their TV sets and switch off their lives " BBC on Sachin


Jab main chota ladka tha.. .


1998, Mumbai, February 23-25

Tendulkar, 14 and Kambli, 16, compile a 664-run unbroken partnership for Shardashram Vidyamandir against St Xavier's at Azad Maidan. It remains the highest partnership recorded in any form of cricket. Kambli made 349 not out , Tendulkar made 326 not out.


Achrekar sir's assistant ran all around trying to attract our attention so that he could tell us to declare. Sachin kept telling me not to look at him " Vinod Kambli"

First Blood


1989, Sialkot, 14 December

On that last day of the last Test of his first Test series in Pakistan Sachin gets hit on the nose by a Waqar delivery. Sachin falls down, gets up and wipes away the gushing blood. Eventually he scores 57.

" It didn't feel nice, with blood flowing from my nose, but I couldn't leave. I told myself, I want to thrash this bowler " TENDULKAR


1990, Old Trafford, 14th August

At 17 yrs and 112 days Sachin becomes the second-youngest centurion in Test history. His 119 not out against England helps India draw the game. It still remains among his most valuable Test innings.


"How could anyone so young be so good at the highest level "
David Frith, cricket writer


Sachin ka favourite...
1992, Perth, 2-3 February
India is struggling at 135 for 6 at the WACA, the bounciest cricket pitch in the world. Tendulkar scripts a counter-attacking gem of 114. It is his favourite innings.


" It's a great pity that an innings which deserved a viewership of a hundred thousand is being watched by such a small crowd "
Richie Benaud




1993, Kolkata, 24 November
With South Africa needing just six runs to win the last over of their Hero Cup semi-final against India, Tendulkar bowls a sensational last over giving away just 3 runs and fashioning an Indian win.


" I had on apprehension, that in trying to restrict the batsmen I would end up bowling a wide or a no-ball especially before I come in to bowl the last ball, I was ultra cautious "
Sachin Tendulkar

Mera number aa gaya



1994, Auckland, 27th March
Opens in an ODI for the first time against New Zealand. Goes on to make 82 off 49 balls.

" Tendulkar was editing the highlights too fast "
Jeremy Coney



1995, Mumbai, October

Signs a 5-year contract worth Rs 31.5 crore with World Tel which makes him the richest cricketer of the world



" I'm betting on the power of Sachin and the power of the Indian economy "
Late Mark Mascrenhas, World Tel Chief



1996

Named Indian skipper at the age of 23.


" My gut feeling is that responsibility will see greater consistency from him and less throwing away of the wicket to casual shots "
Sunil Gavaskar



1998

Tendulkar is sacked from captaincy after a 15-month tenure during which India won just 3 out of 17 Tests


" We removed Sachin because he could not take the pressure of batting and captaincy "
Ramakant Desai



1998, Sharjah April 22-24

Scores two back-to-back tons against Australia to help India reach the final and win it.


" I'll be going to bed having nightmares of Sachin just running down the wicket and belting me back over the head for a six "
Shane Warne



1999, 30-31 January

With an injured back, Tendulkar makes 136 chasing 271 against Pakistan. When Sachin gets out, India need 17 more runs. Eventually, India fall short by 12.


" It was one of the finest innings played under pressure. He is the best batsman in the world "
Wasim Akram



2001, Port Elizabeth, 19 November

Tendulkar is cautioned and fined by match referee Mike Denness for ball tampering in the 2nd Test against South Africa. The resulting outcry in India and the impasse between BCCI and ICC forces the latter to review the decision.



" You have to think five times before you make such a decision "
Chetan Chauhan



2002

Tendulkar's batting genius pulled India out out of trouble in the third and final Test against the West Indies in Kolkata. The little master's unbeaten 114, his 31st Test ton, helped India avoid an innings defeat. Tendulkar delighted nearly 60,000 spectators with his rich stroke-play as the Windies pace-attack looked clueless.


" Sachin denied us a win "
Carl Hooper



2004 -World Cup

After a public backlash following a disastrous performance against Australia, Tendulkar played the interlocutor, pleading to the fans to maintain calm in a rare public statement.


" We will fight till the last ball is bowled, please support us "
Tendulkar



2004- World Cup
It was a merciless Sachin that took on Shoaib Akhtar head on. The result: The faster Shoaib bowled, the quicker his deliveries screamed to the fence.
Run odyssey
An effortless clip to midwicket off Dutch bowler Edgar Schiferli, and Sachin Tendulkar eases past Javed Miandad as the highest run-getter in the World Cup.


" Tujh ko pata hai tune kiska catch choda hai! "
Akram to Razzak, after the latter dropped Tendulkar



2004- India's tour of Pakistan
Five days of hard play. Runs scored 194; wickets taken 2. Critics called it unsporting when the Master Blaster spoke to the press about the missing six runs. Sachin's performance at Multan is testimony to the fact that all ends well if he plays well.


" 'I waited a long time for this win'"
Tendulkar





Bamboozled
Sachin Tendulkar celebrates after dismissing Moin Khan off the last ball on the third day of the first Test match against Pakistan at Multan.



" What we (Zimbabwe) need is 10 Tendulkars"
Paul Strang

ALL Sachin lovers....

Allrounder

Besides being the flagbearer of the Indian dream, Sachin is a loving husband, father, and one of the biggest brands in the country.


Consensus is that Sir Donald Bradman was the best batsman ever to play Cricket. Sir Don did not play one-day Cricket but if he did, he could easily be Sachin Tendulkar.

Sachin pulls Caddick Wisden Moment-2003.

http://rapidshare.com/files/124825416/Sachin_pulls_Caddick__Wisden_Moment_-_2003.by.himanshu.rar

Dhoni & Co. celebrate Independence Day

How many times, have we, as adults been part of an Independence Day ceremony? You could probably count them on your fingers. The significance of what we take for granted at home is only understood when it happens in a foreign country.

It’s not often that our cricketers get to hoist the country’s flag in another country. In what was a pleasing gesture, the Sri Lankan cricket authorities, respecting India’s Independence Day, held a small ceremony before the start of the warm-up game at the P. Saravanamuttu stadium on Friday.

The honour of hoisting the flag was given to skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is fiercely proud of being an Indian. Making it more heartening was the fact that even the Sri Lankan team stood at respectful attention as the tri-colour was unfurled. The team members then rendered the national anthem before the brief ceremony ended. A simple gesture indeed, but it sure sent the right signals. "I remember flag hoisting in my school. I attended the function for 14 years from nursery to class XII without fail. We used to celebrate that and we also used to get a box of sweets on this day," reminisced Dhoni.

"This is a moment (of freedom) which we should enjoy. In reality, we realise what its importance is. We should remember those who contributed (for the independence of the country). People lost their lives for it. We have to recall every thing," said Dhoni.

Little wonder, the man wears his heart on his sleeve. Ravaged by in-fighting, the Sri Lankans may be war-torn island but they sure do recognise and acknowledge their neighbour’s independence.

Yuvraj warms up in style

Colombo, Aug. 15: For someone used to revelling on the big stage, it’s been a while since Yuvraj Singh came up with such a calculated assault. Not since his hundred against Australia in Hyderabad last October has Yuvraj fired the imagination as he did on Friday.

True, it was just a practice game but the left-hander, smarting under the fact that he was dropped for the Test series, chose to take his anger out with the bat.

For a while now Yuvraj’s prowess has been conspicuous by its absence; a little over 10 months after the ton against the Aussies in what was a losing cause, the left-hander put on a majestic display at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium. Pity, that it was just a warm-up fixture in an almost empty stadium.

The Sri Lankan XI led by Chamara Kapugedara fielded a decent attack but the manner in which Yuvraj tore into them must have sent a shiver down Mahela Jayawardena’s spine.

We could dismiss it as a one-off in a not-so-serious game but as far as Yuvraj was concerned there was nothing unofficial about this business. Having spent the last five weeks or so at home while the Test team battled it out in the three-match series, Yuvraj, it was apparent, was itching for action.

What could have been a meaningless match turned highly entertaining as Yuvraj blazed away to 172 from a mere 121 deliveries. Thirteen sixes and eight boundaries thudded off Yuvraj’s willow as the park shrank to a mere playground for the rampaging Indian.

Ranged against this awesome display, it wasn’t surprising that Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s Indians piled up a huge 342/5 in 50 overs upon winning the toss.

As it transpired, the target proved way beyond the Lankan XI, and the hosts despite two neat cameos from the discarded Upul Tharanga (50, 58b) and Jehan Mubarak (60, 74b), were restricted to 250/6 to hand the Indians a 92-run victory.

With Virender Sehwag getting a break and Praveen Kumar and Zaheer Khan being rested, it was a bit surprising that Virat Kohli got a look-in ahead of the senior S. Badrinath. Be that as it may, the youngster didn’t really grab the opportunity but these are early days yet for Kohli.

Gautam Gambhir began with a flurry of boundaries before impetuosity got the better of him, Kohli hung around for a while before falling to Thilana Thushara while Suresh Raina played a pleasing 57-ball 45.

With none of the batsmen going on to build their starts the stage was perfect for Yuvraj and the left-hander paced his innings beautifully. If the first 50 was all about getting the eye in off 70 deliveries, the second and third came at a scorching pace, off a mere 25 and 16 deliveries respectively.

It wasn’t that he was brutal: on the contrary, he was splendid in his timing and the sheer audacity of some of his flat-batted strokes took the breath away.

As Yuvraj pillaged the Lankan attack, giving special attention to part-timer Mubarak, whom he clubbed for four successive sixes, the match was killed as a contest.

At the risk of giving in to hyperbole, a double hundred beckoned him but with overs running out, Yuvraj fell to Chanaka Welagadera but not before being the dominant force in partnerships of 77, 85 and 99 for the third, fourth and fifth wickets with Raina, Rohit Sharma and Dhoni respectively.

Up against the steep target, the Lankans initially set off in pursuit through Tharanga but soon realised the futility of the situation and played out the overs in a tame finish. For the Indians it was a fruitful day in office, warm-up or otherwise.

Indian players chart out Independence Day plans

Indian players chart out Independence Day plans
Source - in.sports.yahoo.com. Tpye the link in google.
Irfan Pathan is ready to play Independence Day quizmaster. "Accha aap batao India ka pehla pradhan mantri kaun tha? (Who was India's first prime minister?)" Pt Jawaharlal Nehru. "And now?" Dr Manmohan Singh. "Well done mate, you got both right," he says.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Independence Day memories revolve around sweets being distributed in his school, while Suresh Raina misses the kite flying sessions. Young Virat Kohli, travelling with the Indian senior side, remembers relaxed outings with his friends.

As a team, they will celebrate Independence Day. "We will have a flag-hoisting ceremony before the match," team manager Sanjay Desai says. "It will be a short ceremony though." The national anthem will be played out from one of the players' i-pods.

And while the Indian team will stand in attention during the anthem, the fans will be hoping they will be at ease once the action shifts on to the field.

IPL demand for Dammika

Dammika Prasad, who dismantled the Indian batsmen with raw pace during the Test series, couldn't find a place for himself in the one-day squad but the Sri Lankan is in high demand in South India.

The Deccan Chargers and the Bangalore Royal Challengers are fighting it out to sign up Prasad for the second season of Indian Premier League. Prasad admitted that "the two teams have shown interest in me and I am in the process of negotiation with them," but refused to dwell further on the issue.

Interestingly, both the South teams ended up at the bottom of the table in the first edition and announced their intention of shoring up their squads. India's chief tormentor, Ajantha Mendis has already been signed up by Kolkata Knight Riders last season. Sri Lanka Cricket has been at loggerheads with their players, who have forced the board to postpone their proposed England tour next year as it clashes with the second edition of IPL.

Moral of the story: Do well against India, and earn big rewards


Indian cricketers celebrate Independence Day in Colombo
Source - cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Indian_cricketers_celebrate_Independence_Day_in_Co lombo. Type the link in google.
COLOMBO: Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni raised the tri-colour as the Indian cricketers, now on a tour to Sri Lanka, celebrated the nation's 62nd Independence Day on Friday.

The cricketers joined the Independence Day celebrations ahead of their One-day warm up game against Sri Lanka Invitation XI at the P Saravanamuttu Stadium,

Dhoni recalled the sacrifices made by the people during the freedom struggle.

"While joining the independence celebrations with the people of India, we also remember all those who made sacrifices during the freedom struggles," Dhoni said during the function held at the same venue that hosted the third and final Test Match between Sri Lanka and India earlier this week.

India gained independence from the British on this day in 1947.

Can Dhoni decode Mendis mystery?

Colombo, Aug. 13: It’s not often that Test series are fought in as exciting a manner as the one that we witnessed. Having said that, it’s not often that one man changes the course of a series in the manner Ajantha Mendis did. It’s been a while since a spinner of such class and conviction contrived to put the batsmen in a spin of web. Just one series old and Mendis is touted as the next big thing to happen to cricket; the bowler himself is a shy, soft-spoken person, so much so that he needs his captain at hand while addressing the world media. More introvert cricketers have come and gone; with passage of time, Mendis will come out of his shell and face the world as a bright and brash cricketer. Until such time, he would prefer to remain in the relative anonymity of his home, family and friends and of course, his beloved team. Much has been said about Mendis since he bamboozled India in the Asia Cup final with astonishing figures of six for 13. A lesser person would have keeled over in the face of intense scrutiny and the Lankans in general and skipper Mahela Jayawardene in particular, would have had a sense of déjà vu about their second-most famous spinner. Not since Harbhajan Singh trapped the all-conquering Aussies with 32 wickets in a three-match series in 2001 has a spinner shaken the cricketing world by its roots. Though Harbhajan hasn’t been able to replicate the feat in the ensuing seven years, the sardar of spin is often taken back to those memories. So will it be for Mendis. Twenty-six wickets in a series is something that any bowler would give his eye-teeth for, to get it in a debut series, well, that is stuff of folklore. Mendis did it and for sure he may pick up many more in his yet fledgling career, but 26 wickets isn’t going to happen every day. The Lankans may not boast of a cricketing history like us Indians, but they sure know a match-winner when they see one. Their most famous spinner, Muttiah Muralitharan faced intense scrutiny following allegations of throwing years ago in a tour of Australia back in 1995-96. Their then captain, an astute Arjuna Ranatunga threw his weight behind the bowler and twelve years down the line, the Lankans find the cricketing world’s glare on them all over again. Taking a leaf out of Ranatunga’s book, Jayawardena has shielded Mendis admirably knowing that too much pressure on the mystery spinner will do him more harm than good. But Test cricket is passé, at least for the next couple of months and until then it’s time for the one-day format. Though Mendis befuddled the Indians in the Asia Cup in Pakistan, they will be a wiser lot when they face him this time around. Some of the returning Test stars would sure have passed on useful tips and the new lot who flew in on Wednesday will realise the task ahead of them. Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh, two of the new arrivals, will be the first to admit that thwarting Mendis’ threat will go a long way in setting up the five-match series for the visitors. Not that the Lankans are a one-man army. It’s not often that Muralitharan is out-bowled in a series and the spinner, who bagged 21 wickets in the three-match series admitted that Mendis had outperformed him. Coming from a classy spinner and someone at the top of the heap with 700-plus sticks, it’s indeed fulsome praise. But the master knows that the journey has just begun for the apprentice. Will one man change the course of the one-day series as well? Only time will tell. But the Indians are sure a furrowed lot.

Past forward

When India had its moment in the sun

As retrospectives go, this one was a topper. Indian cricket has had its moments in the sun, many of which have been celebrated with gusto. The 1983 World Cup win remains so special that recapturing this golden moment is never going to tire the participants or the fans. Going back to Lord's to savour the moment of triumph that had come 25 years earlier was a brilliant idea. Having agreed to let the Indians gave their 'do' at the holiest of holy arenas of the game, the Marylebone Cricket Club was extremely friendly and gracious in making the nostalgic trip truly memorable for Kapil's Devils. Kapil is so chuffed he hasn't stopped talking about how great a trip it was to London. Calling in as soon as he landed back from the UK, the World Cup winning skipper said, "Everyone is happier than in '83. There is a shine on their faces." As the leader of the flock, he has been immensely pleased with the way his '83 lads have shaped up in career and life. "The '83 was the best team ever. I sat and thought about all the guys who came on the 1985 tour to Australia, but I don't believe everyone on it can be as happy as the lot who won the World Cup. Everyone looks happy and healthy. They had such rich things to talk about while we were travelling as a team to the two events in New Delhi and Lord's," Kapil admitted. As the keynote speaker at the two events, Kapil had as big a responsibility as when he walked out to bat with the scoreboard reading 9-4 and which had soon descended to 17-5 at Tunbridge Wells, a defining moment of the campaign that changed not only Indian cricket but also the world order. Kapil was not the greatest communicator when he was a fledgling. It was not so much a matter of which language he chose to spoke in as it was what he said and how he said it. The transformation is remarkable. Kapil has made a very special effort to be a cool talker and entertainer with words. He admitted quite freely that he had picked up considerably on the nuances of speech in the 25 years and more that have passed since the most famous victory of Indian cricket came at Lord's on 25 June 1983. "So many came up to me and said - 'You talked so well.' I know that has not been my strength, but over 25 years I have also learnt a bit. I know they are sincere because they don't have to praise me now. I am no more the captain. I am only their friend. But they turned around and said - 'No, you are still the skipper.' That made me mighty proud," Kapil said. In fact, Ravi Shastri, the cricketer who has made speaking on television a fine art to be able to rub shoulders with the best of them from around the world, told Kapil that the introductions he gave at the dinners in Delhi and London were the best he has had in his entire career. For two days, the team was one happy family, sharing meals, jokes, anecdotes and cocktails at the Piccadilly Hilton. With wives and family on tour, this was different from what the World Cup tour had been. There was so much good cheer the retrospective will remain as memorable for the players as the win itself had been. Sunil Gavaskar had not been well, the cold flight out under an airline blanket affecting him quite badly. He did, however, hold the company in thrall the next morning at breakfast, speaking always like an elder statesman. As the brain behind the Lord's event, he sort of doubled the happiness with the togetherness of a trip thrown in. Kapil said that the Delhi function had been better because that was the first time his boys heard their skipper turn into an after-dinner speaker who could play on words and hold the audience in thrall. At Lord's, the players could anticipate what was coming. "After 25 years, they are grandfathers, not boys. I am glad the way things have gone in their lives for all of them," Kapil said in signing off on the trip down memory lane.

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Abhinav Bindra wins 10m Aair Rrifle Gold

Abhinav Bindra won India's first ever individual Olympic gold medal on Monday with a thrilling come-from-behind victory in the men's 10 metres air rifle event.

Bindra was fourth after qualifying but had a brilliant final round and even hit a near perfect 10.8 on his last visit to pull in front of Henri Hakkinen of Finland, who dropped to bronze with a poor final shot of 9.7.

That allowed China's Zhu Qinan, the defending Olympic champion and heavy favourite, to pass him on his final shot and win the silver medal.

"It's just great," Bindra said just before climbing on to the podium.
Zhu suffered a late lapse in concentration in the qualification earlier on Monday morning when he had to rush his final shots to make the time limit, thus dropping to second place behind Hakkinen ahead of the final.

He was close to tears and said: "I was under tremendous pressure and at times I felt really agitated. But I tried my best."
India's last Olympic gold medal was from hockey (8th gold) at the 1980 Moscow Olympics . Bindra's feat betters the silver medal effort of double trap shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore at the Athens Games in 2004.
Randhir Singh, Indian Olympic Association secretary-general and former shooter who was present at the range, was stricken with nerves as the competition reached its climax.

"I haven't prayed so much in my life. With the second last shot they tied together and then he (Bindra) shot a 10.8. It couldn't have got better," he said.
Bindra won the 2006 World championships and finished seventh in Athens four years ago.

Lankans seize initiative

• The pens will be out quicker than daggers in self-defence. Obituaries of the batting quartet are certain to appear as India sit embarrassingly close to another crushing defeat on the back of an insipid and inept batting display that even the pair who batted an entire day in Kolkata in 2001 to revive Indian cricket might not be enough at the crease to alter the fate of the third Test here.
• V.V.S. Laxman, with Gautam Gambhir as runner, survived 32 nervy minutes in the company of Rahul Dravid as India hung on to fight another day at 161/5, an effective score of just 14.
  
• Dravid who is under tremendous pressure to live to his high standards was unbeaten on a polished 46.
• After their tardiness allowed Sri Lanka to post 396 in their first innings, India were on the back foot.
  
• With two more days left the script looks firmly in favour of the hosts.
• Virender Sehwag and Gambhir gave India a cracking start, something they had done consistently this series, their 50 coming in 49 balls but soon Sehwag’s uppish square cut and Gambhir’s ill advised pull, both against Dhammika Prasad, proved fatal.
• With two frontline batsmen on the injured list and the openers not taking up the responsibility fully, Sourav Ganguly walked in much earlier than expected at four. The only period of reasonable resistance came from the two men who had stated their Test career together at Lord’s 12 years ago. Dravid and Ganguly added 43 runs in 15.2 overs to offer a semblance of promise.
• After surviving a referral, Ganguly paid the price for trying to effect the sweep to a delivery pitched within the stumps and fullish in length. Parthiv Patel, promoted in the order by compulsion, looked mystified during his short stay.
• Ajantha Mendis trapped him with the carom ball to draw level with Sir Alec Bedser as the highest wicket taker for a debutant in a three Test series. He surpassed that tally with the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar later. It was also the first time Mendis had the measure of Tendulkar in six innings.
• Mahela Jayawardene went for the referral twice in the same over bowled by Muralitharan against Tendulkar. It was clear the ball pitched marginally outside the line of leg stump on both occasions. Tendulkar failed to learn and was sent back when he offered no shot to Mendis to a delivery that pitched on off stump.
• Earlier India extended all possible help to Sri Lanka when they set out to further extend their two-run lead. The lack of intensity was appalling.
• Singles were allowed freely and there was hardly a fielder who looked like saving them.
• Kumar Sangakkara started the day with a few delectable square cuts while Prasanna Jayawardene proved why his batting is held in high esteem by the locals.
• Kumble grew grumpy and there was nothing much left in terms of innovation he could usher.
• The non-availability of Ishant Sharma, who could not recover in time from his injury, was a costly loss.
• The bite was lacking as runs were collected with a measure of comfort. The effort of Prasanna added to Sangakkara’s confidence. Two shots from the wicket keeper lit up the Stadium. A well controlled pull off Zaheer Khan followed by a splendid cover drive off Kumble were the best that flowed. Sangakkara was neatly pouched by Parthiv who looked safe behind the stumps. The centurion followed the wrong one and duly nicked it.
• The pair had added 80 runs to push India out of the match. Sangakkara’s disciplined effort — more than seven hours at the crease — fully deserved the standing ovation he received from the knowledgeable Tamil Union clubhouse.
• What followed was pure misery for India. Dammika Prasad used the long handle to good effect carting Zaheer and Kumble for a few boundaries. Prasanna who had a well deserved half-century in sight timed his flick too well for his own comfort and Harbhajan Singh took a well judged catch at deep square leg.
• Mendis joined Dammika and the rubbing of salt into the wounds continued.
• A 29-run partnership for the ninth wicket was the last thing India would have wanted on a day on which nothing went right. Kumble wrapped up the innings by trapping Mendis in front.
• A lead of 147 was achieved and India quietly trooped of fully aware they had little chance of coming back to bowl with a competitive target in place.

Olympics 2008 Inaugural Function

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Ishant rested from ODI squad

Ishant Sharma has been rested from the one-day series against Sri Lanka.

England Captain Pietersen toughest challenge

• Kevin Pietersen embraces the toughest challenge of a career already packed with incident and controversy when he leads England against his native South Africa in the fourth Test at the Oval on Thursday.
• Pietersen was confirmed as England's new captain on Monday after Michael Vaughan concluded his time was up following South Africa's third Test victory at the weekend.