Former India batsman Ramesh Saxena dead

Former India batsman Ramesh Saxena has died of a brain haemorrhage, in Jamshedpur at the age of 66.

Saxena, who played one Test for India, in 1967, was serving as the secretary of the Bihar Jharkhand Cricket Association.

A teenage prodigy, Saxena began his first-class career with a century for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy at the age of just 16. He was a stalwart for Delhi for many years, and earned a call-up to the India side for the 1967 tour of England. He scored 238 runs on the tour, but got scores of 16 and 9 in the only Test he played, at Headingley.

He also toured Australia and New Zealand in 1967-68 but never played another Test.

According to the Cricinfo web site, he played 149 first-class matches, scoring 8155 runs with 17 centuries.

West Indies Removed Experienced Sarwan for Final Test Against India

West Indies have dropped experienced but out-of-form batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan from their 13-member squad for the third cricket Test against India starting on Wednesday.

Kieran Powell has been named to take Sarwan's place in the squad.

The 21-year-old left-hander is the Leeward Islands opener and a regular member of the West Indies A team.

There are no other changes to the squad from the second Test in Barbados which ended in a draw. India hold a 1-0 series lead in the three-match rubber.

Powell has played two one-dayers for the West Indies, both in the Champions Trophy in South Africa two years ago.

In all, he has 5 runs to his name from these two international matches after he made a duck against Bangladesh, and 5 against India.

Sarwan has had a wretched summer with the bat and made only 29 runs from four innings of the first two Tests against India. He was no better against Pakistan in the ODI series, making 54 runs from four innings of two Tests.

"Ramnaresh is having a difficult time and it is best for him to make way and allow a player in better form to contribute to the team totals," said Clyde Butts, Chairman of the Selection Committee.

"We have no doubt about Ramnaresh's class as a batsman, he has proven himself countless times in the past and we are certain that he will return stronger in the near future," Butts added.

"Kieran is young but has been on the first class circuit for some time and is a former Windies Under-19 World Cup player. He did well for the West Indies A and scored an impressive hundred against England Lions in the WICB Regional four-Day Tournament but got injured subsequently."

Powell has been working for the past several weeks at the Sagicor High Performance Center in Barbados under Head Coach Andre Coley and Batting Coach Carl Hooper.

The Third Test will be played at Windsor Park here from July 6. This is the first time a Test is being hosted in Dominica though it has staged four one-dayers -- two each against Bangladesh and South Africa -- in the past.

West Indies squad: Darren Sammy (capt), Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Fidel Edwards, Kirk Edwards, Kieran Powell, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels and Lendl Simmons.

Selectors faced with Sehwag dilemma ahead of team selection

Dashing opener Virender Sehwag's availability will be the bone of contention when the national selectors meet here Saturday to select the Test squad for the cricket tour of England.

While Sachin Tendulkar (rested from the ongoing tour of the West Indies), Zaheer Khan and Gautam Gambhir (recovering from injuries) will be back to bolster the squad, there hasn't yet been any concrete information about the status of Sehwag's injured shoulder that underwent a surgery in May.

Patience pays off for India paceman Sharma

A source close to Sehwag said that the opener may just struggle to get fit in time for the first Test as "he is yet to get back the desired strength in his shoulders."

The first Test starts from July 21 at the Lord's. India are scheduled to play four Tests and five ODIs during the tour of England.

"We have no information as of now on the status of Sehwag's injury. We will only get to know once we are in Chennai. We have heard that Gautam and Zaheer are fit," a selector preferring anonymity told PTI today.

There is speculation that selectors may just take a gamble by including Sehwag in the team and wait for him to get fit by the time the second Test starts in Nottingham from July 29.

Sunil Gavaskar hits out at ICC

 Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar has slammed the International Cricket Council (ICC) for deciding to abolish runners for injured batsmen in One-day International matches.

According to Gavaskar, the decision by the International Cricket Council (ICC) is unfair to the batsmen and he suggested that there should be similar restrictions for bowlers and fielders.

"I would also like to suggest that there should be no water for bowlers at the boundary end. They bowl one over and come to the boundary where energy drinks are waiting for them," Gavaskar told 'NDTV'.

The legendary batsman asserted that the ICC should also consider doing away with drinks breaks and the concept of substitute fielders in order to ensure a level playing for both the batting and fielding sides.

"There should be no drinks breaks that are usually scheduled after one hour or so. If you are going to make a situation like this then there should not be any substitute fielders either," Gavaskar stated.

"There should not be a substitute fielder when a regular player goes off the field. If a fielder gets injured or has cramps, he should either go off the field or stay there. That ways it balances out everything and the batting side is not the only one affected," he added.

ICC decided 14-team format for 2015 World Cup

Under fierce criticism from associate members, the International Cricket Council (ICC) made a U-turn Tuesday and decided that 14 teams will participate in the 2015 World Cup, a change from the earlier ten-team format announced earlier this year.

Four associate teams will play the next World Cup alongside 10 full members, reports ESPNcricinfo.

The decision to reinstate the associates in the mega-event was taken on the third day of the ICC's annual conference in Hong Kong.

On Monday, the ICC's chief executives' committee (CEC) recommended to the executive board that there should be a qualifying tournament for associates for the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

ESPNcricinfo reported that the executive board acted on the CEC's recommendation and ensured participation of associate teams by expanding the tournament from 10 to 14 teams.

Tendulkar loses top postion to Kallis in ICC Test rankings

Sachin Tendulkar on Friday lost the coveted number one spot in the ICC Test rankings to South Africa's Jacques Kallis but Rahul Dravid, adjudged man-of -the-match for scoring a century in the first Test against West Indies, returned to the top-20 after jumping nine places.

According to an ICC media release, left-hander Suresh Raina, too, moved up 26 places to be placed 61st after his after his useful knock of 82 in the first innings against West Indies at Kingston.

Tendulkar lost the top after the iconic batsman decided to skip the series against West Indies. He is currently placed second.

As a player loses one per cent of his rating points for every Test he misses, Tendulkar will lose more points as he will not figure in the remaining two Tests.

However, the Mumbaikar will still enter next month's Test series against England as the number two batsman.

World cricket body probing Aamer ban breach claims

The International Cricket Council are investigating reports that Pakistan bowler Mohammad Aamer has continued playing despite his ban for spot-fixing, a spokesman said Wednesday.

Aamer, 19, was hit with a five-year ban in February following allegations of involvement in a spot-fixing scandal during last summer's Test series between England and Pakistan.

However reports in England have said Aamer has flouted the terms of his ban by playing for a junior club in Surrey.

We have heard the reports and we are investigating, ICC spokesman James Fitzgerald said.

The suspension very clearly states that it is a suspension from all forms of cricket and all cricket-related activities.

The Daily Star reported that Aamer had been spotted playing for Addington 1743 in a Surrey Cricket League Division One game last Saturday.

Witnesses said Aamer stole the show, scoring 60 runs before taking four wickets in an 81-run win over St Lukes.

No one could quite believe it was him, St Lukes batsman Karl Quinn, 37, was quoted as saying. There was no attempt to disguise who he was, he even posed for a picture with me.

One of our Pakistani players was rubbing his eyes in disbelief and asking: ?Is that who I think it is??. He didn?t stay till the end but it was blatantly him.

Serena Williams comeback for tennis

Serena Williams will make her return to tennis after missing almost a year with injury and illnesss, taking a wild card into next week's Eastbourne grass-court tournament, officials said Tuesday.

The one-time number one who now stands 25 after her months of inactivity, joins her sister Venus in the ATP-WTA field at the English south coast beach town.

Serena last played as she won a fourth Wimbledon title last July, before suffering a foot injury which required surgery. In February, she had to deal with a blood clot in her lung suffer.

First Test call-up for Dernbach

England bowler injured James Anderson ahead of the second Test replacement for the Jade Dernbach against Sri Lanka, which starts at Lord's on Friday.

The South African-born seamer recently racked up a nine-wicket haul for the England Lions against the tourists at Derby and will battle it out with Steven Finn for a berth in the starting XI.

"Jade is a talented young bowler and after excelling with the England Performance Programme he enjoyed considerable success with the ball against Sri Lanka while playing for the England Lions prior to the first Test," said chief selector Geoff Miller.

Anderson is likely to be ruled out of the duration of the three-Test series after enduring a side strain in the series opener, which the hosts won by an innings and 14 runs regardless.

 

It's obviously disappointing to lose Jimmy Anderson for the next Test as he is world-class and the leader of our attack but we're fortunate to have a healthy stock of pace bowlers at present.

"We're hopeful Jimmy will be available for the third Test but in the meantime we're excited by Jade's inclusion."

Dernbach, a 25-year-old right-armer from Sussex, has racked up 169 wickets across 59 first-class appearances at an average of 31.59. He edged out Lions team-mates Ajmal Shahzad and Graeme Onions as cover for Anderson.

Second Test squad: Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Chris Tremlett, Steven Finn, Jade Dernbach.

IPL inspires kabaddi league in India

After the International Hockey Federation announced plans of a professional league modelled on the IPL earlier this month, the governing body of the team contact sport in India has launched its own version called the Kabaddi Premier League.

The IPL, currently in its fourth season, has struggled to sustain the momentum it enjoyed when it was launched with TV ratings plummeting as franchises struggle to make profits on their investments.

However, that negativity has not deterred the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) from announcing a tournament which will feature eight franchises and will be staged from June 8-16 at Vijayawada in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

"Actually we had thoughts about organising a tournament like this before cricket. But looking at the success of the IPL, we decided it was time," AKFI secretary K. Jagadishwar Yadav told Reuters by phone.

"Each team will be allowed four foreign players and it will popularise the game even more in the country."

The winners will receive prize money of one million rupees (about $22,036) while the runner-up will pocket half the amount.

Kabaddi, which requires no sophisticated equipment, is hugely popular in South Asia and was included in the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing for the first time as a regular discipline.

India has won all six gold medals in the Asian Games since its introduction and also won the women's event in the 2010 Guangzhou Games, where it was played for the first time.

"Our ultimate aim is to introduce this game into Olympics. We are moving in that direction as we have managed to get it into the Asian Games" Yadav said.

"We are confident that we will present the country with the first Olympic Kabaddi gold medal if we are successful in getting it in."

Kabaddi is played by two teams of seven members, in which a 'raider' enters the other half of the court to tag or wrestle opponents before returning 'home' while holding his breath and chanting 'kabaddi, kabaddi'.

Woods down to 12th in world rankings

Ian Poulter is up to 14th in the world rankings following his 2 and 1 win over Luke Donald in the final of the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain on Sunday.

Donald, who would have gone top for the first time had he won in place of Lee Westwood, stays in second just a fraction of a point behind his fellow Englishman.

Tiger Woods, meanwhile, continued his tumble down the rankings from eighth to 12th, the first time he has been outside the world top 10 since the week before his stunning win in the 1997 Masters.

World top 20:-

1. Lee Westwood (ENG)

2. Luke Donald (ENG)

3. Martin Kaymer (GER)

4. Phil Mickelson (USA)

5. Graeme McDowell (NIR)

6. Rory McIlroy (NIR)

7. Charl Schwartzel (RSA)

8. Steve Stricker (USA)

9. Paul Casey (ENG)

10. Matt Kuchar (USA)

11. Bubba Watson (USA)

12. Tiger Woods (USA)

13. Dustin Johnson (USA)

14. Ian Poulter (ENG)

15. Nick Watney (USA)

16. KJ Choi (KOR)

17. Jim Furyk (USA)

18. Hunter Mahan (USA)

19. Francesco Molinari (ITA)

20. Ernie Els (RSA)

ICC propose legal betting in India

International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Haroon Lorgat advocates making gambling legal in India, saying regulating betting on cricket matches would make the fight against corruption much easier. "That's been our view, if the industry was regulated you could actually work with them, monito
r them better and everything would be legal so there is reason to go underground," he said in an interview with CNN World Sport.

"So our view is if it was to be regulated it would make the fight against corruption much easier for us."

Asked if ICC was in any dialogue with the Indian government over that, Lorgat said, "Early days but we have started to consider how best to engage on that issue."

"Integrity is central to the game and the ICC has got a very clear objective of exercising zero tolerance as far as that is concerned, so any form of corruption that would affect the sport is treated with the utmost severity," he said.

Asked if there would be any further rule changes, he said an independent external review was on to determine what could be done to improve the operations or the fight against corruption.

"One of the suggestions being mooted, is the concept of a mystery shopper," Lorgat said. "Meaning that we may well have people posing as a bookmaker, and approaching players to see if they report back to the anti-corruption security unit, which is an obligation they have got."

Lorgat said initially the players' response was not very supportive because they felt it was some sort of entrapment.

"But it's early days it was just a thought we had, let's see what the recommendations are and if we think it's a worthwhile idea we will engage with the players and the association to see if it's implementable.

"I think those are things we need to support," Lorgat said voicing confidence that "the majority of players are honest and play the game in the right spirit and they would have no reservations in supporting such a move".

The legends final battle of ipl

Four years ago, Shane Warne's glittering international career came to an end after he helped Australia whip England 5-0 to regain the Ashes, and he contentedly signed off noting that his team owned every major trophy on offer. The finale of his IPL career has been diametrically opposite, with his inconsistent side, Rajasthan Royals, eliminated early and Warne himself has been in the news over the past week for off-field altercations rather than on-field wizardry.

There have been glimpses of the old bewitching loop and cricketing nous but that hasn't been enough to inspire his team to reach the play-offs. Rajasthan have little at stake in Friday's match against Mumbai Indians and the highlight for cricket aficionados will be the last chance to see the celebrated Warne v Tendulkar rivalry.

Mumbai have been off the boil in the past couple of matches and have lost their seemingly nailed-on spot at the top of the table, slipping down to third. There is still an outside chance that Mumbai may not make the play-offs, a possibility they will look to eliminate on Friday.

After fourplay, IPL loses appeal among cricket enthusiasts

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has a new record. Latest TRP figures show that the ratings have hit a new low of 3.84. This reading after 59 matches in IPL-4 is a far cry from the healthy 5.36 ratings of the IPL 3.

For the first time in four seasons, last week the TAM ratings dropped below the 4-figure mark, losing viewership of more than 25%. This week’s ratings show a lost viewership of over 28%. The slumping ratings seem to have forced the markets into recalibration mode. A market analyst said: “These are never seen before ratings. The downward spiral has been gradual and sharp.”

The slump has come as a setback for broadcasters. The markets are not sure if broadcasters will be able sell the ad slots they reserved for the play-offs.

One of the reasons, experts say, is that the quality of cricket has taken a beating. While IPL founder Lalit Modi expressed his sadness at the new low, ad guru Prahlad Kakar put the reason down to very few inconsequential matches.

Another key reason could be an overdose of cricket. Also, IPL-4 comes after a highly successful World Cup where India lifted the trophy after 28 years. During previous IPLs — in 2009 and 2010 — the ICC tournaments had followed the league. In addition, with most teams changing players, the loyalty factor is missing.

Last week, Mumbai Indians attracted a healthy rating of over 4 but other matches, including the high-profile game between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore, delivered a low rating of 2.74. Kakar had a ready explanation: “Matches involving Mumbai and Sachin Tendulkar will attract good ratings. Only Tendulkar sells.”

The BCCI, however, says it cannot be driven by the TRPs. “You should ask Max (the broadcasters) for the ratings. We have nothing to say,” said Sundar Raman, COO of the IPL. Sony head honcho Sneha Rajani refused to comment.

ICC releases corruption findings for outside UK only

Cricket`s governing body on Wednesday released its findings from a corruption investigation which resulted in three Pakistan players being banned at the weekend for five years.

The document detailing an independent tribunal`s deliberations was not available in Britain because of forthcoming criminal charges faced there by former captain Salman Butt and fast bowlers Mohammad Amir
The trio are accused of fixing parts of matches in a Test match against England last August.

An International Cricket Council (ICC) statement quoted chief Haroon Lorgat saying: "It is the ICC`s intention to be as transparent an organisation as is feasible and to publish all its reports and findings for the benefit of stakeholders."

Can Yusuf change India's game at No. 7?

The Pathan household at Baroda no longer lives in the gloom surrounding Irfan's ouster from Team India as the elder son Yusuf has taken charge and is ready to slog it out for India in the World Cup.

The new year has brought only good news for them. While the family got richer by around Rs. 18 crore by way of the brothers' IPL signings, Yusuf got the nod in India's 15-man World Cup squad.
Now that he is in the team, the 'Baroda marauder' has taken on the mantle at that crucial No. 7 spot that has for long been the Achilles' heel for Team India.

While No. 7 is many different things to many different people - seven Wonders, seven Seas, seven continents, seven swaras in Indian music - it remains a pivotal batting position in the game of cricket.

The player who comes in at this number can be seen as a real game changer. He is the one who makes a difference of that crucial 20-30 runs in the slog overs and if wickets fall early, he has to carry the team to bat out the complete quota of 50 overs.

Less than a fortnight is left to the start of the most-awaited ICC event - the World Cup - that No. 7 can be crucial for all the teams. So let's take a look at a few classy players who bat at this position and how they can turn a match on its head.

Decision to ban trio will act as deterrent: ICC

The International Cricket Council on Sunday asserted that the ban imposed on the tainted Pakistani trio in the spot-fixing scandal were based on solid proof and hoped it would act as deterrent for those who dare to tarnish the image of the game in future.

Commending the decision to hand lengthy bans to Salman Butt, Mohd. Asif and Mohd. Amir, ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat said that corruption in cricket will not be tolerated and the independent tribunal sent down a strong message through its decision in Doha yesterday.

“I am satisfied that the proceedings are now over and we respect the findings of the independent tribunal. The members of this tribunal are extremely experienced and have considered the matter at great length after hearing detailed submissions from all parties,” Lorgat said in a statement.

Ryder scores century as New Zealand post 311

Jesse Ryder flicked, stroked and bludgeoned his way to his second one-day international century to anchor New Zealand`s 311 for seven in the sixth and final match against Pakistan at Eden Park on Saturday.

Scott Styris and Nathan McCullum also scored half centuries to give New Zealand`s bowlers a chance to defend on a good batting wicket with short boundaries.

Ryder, who was struggling with a leg injury and needed a runner for the latter part of his innings, blazed his way to his first 50 runs off 34 balls before the Pakistani bowlers restricted New Zealand through the middle overs.

The 26-year-old Ryder still managed to bring up his century off 82 balls with a flick off his hip to fine leg for his seventh boundary. He also smashed six sixes into the stands.

IPL shuts door on Ganguly, bans Pandey for 4 matches

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly will not be part of IPL-4 starting on April 8 and Karnataka batsman Manish Pandey cannot play the first four matches for his new franchise Sahara Pune Warriors for breaching player guidelines, the league`s Governing Council said on Friday.

IPL`s Governing Council stalled what could have been a back-door entry for Ganguly after he was left unsold at the players` auction in Bangalore at a base price of USD

Based on the views from Franchisees, IPL Governing Council decided not to make available the unsold Indian Players from the auction," said a release from Cricket Board`s secretary N Srinivasan who is a member of the GC as an office bearer of the Board.

Players can be thrown out of WC ICC

The International Cricket Council has cracked the whip on players indulging knowingly or unknowingly in ambush marketing, by threatening to throw them out of the World Cup starting in Dhaka on February 19.

"Any squad member that knowingly or unknowingly breaches the squad terms may face sanctions ranging from financial penalties through to being excluded from continued participation in the event," ICC's legal head David Becker said in a memo to all international players and cricket boards regarding guidelines for endorsements and commercials around the World Cup.

Interestingly, the memo went out on October 26 last year, but the Indian players seem to have just woken up to this threat, with four of them - including Sachin Tendulkar - having sought a meeting apparently to discuss the matter with BCCI president Shashank Manohar here on Friday.

Tendulkar, with teammates Ashish Nehra, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh in tow, met the BCCI chief ahead of the Indian Premier League's Governing Council meeting, it was learnt.

An IPL franchise source told PTI that the meeting was sought by the players because the restrictions imposed by ICC on brand endorsements would begin seven days prior to the start of the World Cup and end only when a team goes out.

"At all times squad members may not allow their name, likeness or image to be used by any third party in any advertising or endorsement (or for any commercial purpose) in such a way that gives rise to a direct or implied association with the event (the World Cup)," said Becker in his memo.

"During the period of seven days prior to the first match of the event and the departure date of the team, squad members may not allow their name, likeness or image to be used by any third party in any advertising or endorsement (or for any other commercial purpose) wearing team kit, team uniform or practise kit (or anyother clothing confusingly similar thereto)," the ICC memo to players said.

"Squad members may not display the branding, marks or insignia of any third party (apart from an approved kit manufacturer, team Sponsor or team logo) while on the field of play," the memo said.

But the ICC has allowed squad members to appear in an advertisement or an endorsement during the mega-event if they wear cricket whites or "any other casual formal or leisure wear", provided they don't appear in the national colours of their team and there is no direct association with the World Cup or usage of logos of the ICC or the tournament.