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.