Arsenal suffer Adebayor blow .......

UEFA Champions League hopefuls Arsenal FC have been dealt a blow with the news that Togo international striker Emmanuel Adebayor will miss their Premiership visit to Sheffield United FC on Saturday because of a thigh strain.

The 21-year-old, who has scored six goals in 17 league appearances for Arsenal this season, sustained the injury in the second half of the London club's 2-1 victory against Watford FC on Tuesday. He had only just returned from a three-week period on the sidelines with the same problem on the other leg.

The news is a further set-back for the club, who are already missing captain Thierry Henry because of a sciatic nerve problem. Better news concerns defender Johan Djourou however, who is expected to feature at Bramall Lane despite also picking up a thigh injury. Arsenal are currently third in the Premiership and will play PSV Eindhoven in the first knockout round of the UEFA Champions League next year.

Chelsea miss the services of Terry for six weeks due to back injury…..

Chelsea FC captain John Terry could be ruled out of action for six weeks after the Premiership champions confirmed that he had undergone surgery on the back injury that has sidelined him for the club's last four matches.

The England international defender, who has made over 200 league appearances for Chelsea, had the successful operation in France after consultations between the medical department at the London club and a leading neurosurgical specialist.

The news means that the 26-year-old will not only be ruled out of crucial league fixtures but could also be a doubt for Chelsea's UEFA Champions League last 16 first-leg meeting with FC Porto on 21 February. Terry's last appearance was on 13 December in a 1-0 victory against Newcastle United FC.

Indian Pacers hit hard but Pollock steadies the innings….

NDIA fast bowler Shanta Sreesanth took 3-53 to lead his side's fightback on the fourth day of the second Test in Durban today.

South Africa was 6-192 in its second innings, a lead of 280 runs.

India was dismissed for 240 in reply to South Africa's first innings of 328.

A.B. de Villiers and Graeme Smith took their opening stand to 99 before medium pacer Vikram Singh had de Villiers caught by V.V.S. Laxman at second slip for 47.

Sreesanth trapped Hashim Amla leg before for 0 seven balls later, and he uprooted Smith's off-stump in his next over.Smith had hit 11 fours in making 58.

South Africa immediately slumped to 4-121 when Ashwell Prince, a century maker in the first innings, edged the third ball he faced to Sourav Ganguly at first slip to be dismissed for 0.

Herschelle Gibbs scored nine runs before spooning a delivery from leg spinner Anil Kumble to substitute fielder Dinesh Karthik at short cover.

Left-arm fast bowler Zaheer Khan then reduced South Africa to 6-143 by dismissing Mark Boucher leg before for eight.

Shaun Pollock and Andrew Hall halted the slide with an unbroken stand of 49 for the seventh wicket.

But finally it’s Pollock and the Hall who have steadied the innings and have rescued Southafricans from the final collapse.

Pollock was 18 not out at lunch with Hall on 20.

Indians succumb again to fiersome SA bodyline attack…..

Team India batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman resumed duties on the third day of the second Test against South Africa at the Sahara Kingsmead Stadium in Durban on Thursday but succumbed to fiersome bodyline attack by Nel & party..

Tendulkar, overnight not out on 46, reached his 50 soon after the start of play with the help of a boundary, to stamp his presence on the proceedings.

But 22 runs later, Makhaya Ntini scripted the master batsman’s end as he tried to cheekily lift the ball over wicketkeeper Mark Boucher’s head, only managing to offer a catch for 63, leaving the visitors 125 for four.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly only lasted only two balls at the crease as a Makhaya Ntini delivery kept getting bigger at the batsman, the ball taking the shoulder and looping towards Herschelle Gibbs who made no mistake. A baffled Ganguly left the crease for a duck, the Indians down to 125 for five.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni arrived at the crease to tidy the situation India found themselves in, facing a fired up South African pace attack, gunning for no less than the helmet.

VVS Laxman got hit in the process by Andre Nel trying to evade a scathing incoming delivery. Dhoni too smelled the leather, Nel again on the money, the batsman still managing a smile.

However, the swashbuckling batsman gave way after reaching 34 assisted by seven luscious blows to the fence as Morne Morkel came into the act and so did AB de Villiers with the catch. The tall fast bowler struck again to remove Anil Kumble for naught with India going seven down and still 149 runs in arrears.

VVS Laxman kept his end intact even after being at the wrong end of bouncers, continuing to wage a battle of his own when little else stuck around. Zaheer Khan too perished after scoring two, handing a third wicket to Morne Morkel who continued to impress on debut, India now 183 for eight.

India, still behind South Africa have a tough ask to not only overcome their opponents’ total of 328 in the first innings, but also have to go ahead to keep their nose in front and ensure they don’t lose the grip in the three-match Test series, which they already lead 1-0.

Dalmiya resigns from CAB, promises to bounce back

Under pressure from the Cricket Board, former BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya resigned from the post of the president of Cricket Association of Bengal on Wednesday but promised to soon bounce back into reckoning.

In a letter to the members of the Working Committee of the CAB, Dalmiya said he had decided to resign due to what he alleged as "a pre-determined and vindictive attitude of the current regime of the BCCI".

Dalmiya, who had been expelled for life by the BCCI earlier this month said he would continue to fight against "injustice" on his own accord saying, "I am sure my stand would be fully vindicated through the process of law in which I have full confidence."

He also promised to stage a comeback saying, "I am confident that I will fully regain the opportunity to continue to serve the game of cricket with full honour."

Dalmiya, who has been controlling the affairs of CAB for almost 25 years, also proposed that former BCCI president Biswanath Dutt would be the right person to head CAB in these difficult circumstances. He said he appealed to Dutta to accept the charge of CAB.

Dalmiya's resignation came ahead of this evening's crucial Working Committee meeting of the CAB, in which the issue of Dalmiya's expulsion for life by BCCI was to be taken up as per which he could no longer continue as an office-bearer of any affiliate.

700 was pretty special says Warney

Shane Warne created history on the first day of the Boxing Day Test when he bowled Andrew Strauss to claim his 700th Test wicket.

Warne went on to take four more wickets for his 37th five-wicket haul in Tests.

At the end of Day I of the fourth Test against England, Warne has 704 Test wickets in his bag.

And the veteran leggie, playing his last Test in front of his home crowd in Melbourne Cricket Ground, was understandably over the moon after his unique feat.

Warne said that he did not expect to take five wickets as the pitch and the conditions were perfect for the pacers.

"I was not in any hurry to bowl the way the wicket was playing. It was seaming around a fair bit and the ideal conditions kept the moisture in there. It was nipping around for the quickies. So I was not hoping to take five, six or seven wickets. If I had got a couple of overs to bowl at the tail it would have been very nice but the way it turned out and whoever writes my script is doing an unbelievable job. So keep doing the job," Warne said.

He also said that he had already thought how he would get to his 700th Test wicket.

"McGrath said to me how are you going to get him out and I said I will bowl him through the gates sweeping and he said right. I bowled him through the gates but he was not sweeping but driving," the leg spinner said.

"I tried to slow up the pace. When that sort of thing happens you know something is going right for you. But then I was going to keep running but then stopped. It was just pretty special," he said when asked about how he felt after reaching the milestone.

Pollock keen to heal Proteas wounded pride …....

Their pride severely dented, veteran South African all-rounder Shaun Pollock said on Sunday that he was determined to help his team put the record straight in the second cricket Test against India starting here on Tuesday.

"Losing at the Wanderers was a severe blow to us, it damaged our pride," said Pollock ahead of match at the Wanderers on Sunday. "But this one is one of our favourite places and we are keen to put the record straight," he added.

Pollock, who picked his 400th scalp in the first Test at the Wanderers, said motivation had not been an issue with him and he did not have any plans of retirement.

"I tend to reassess at the start of each season and it is no different now. I feel I am good enough for this and the next series (against Pakistan), but, as always, I would reassess at the end of the season. As of now, there is no imminent retirement," he said.

The former South African captain said the team wanted to level the series and pick up momentum from the next match. Pollock insisted that his team's bowling was not as bad as it was being made out in the media.

"It is a huge Test for us and we do not want to lose. We want to draw level, draw level here and then move on to Cape Town. I can speak from my personal perspective and there is a huge motivation. Playing at my home ground is another reason," he added.

Pollock praised the Indian bowling attack though he did not think that it was the best pace attack they had sent to South Africa.

"S Sreesanth technically is very good, he bowls with a high action, the ball comes out of his hand lovely and he always has a chance of something coming good for him. If India can manage him well he will play a big part.

"But as far as the best fast bowling attack we have seen, I would always rate (Javagal) Srinath as the best fast bowler India has produced. He was remarkable over the years, he could make the ball talk, not only in seamer-friendly conditions but also on flat wickets in India," he said.

Gilchirst to score an another Century, this time in Sixers........

Gilchirst to score an another Century, this time in Sixers

Western Australian Adam Gilchirst popularly known as “Gilly”, would be famous again on the boxing day of the test match at Melbourne. This time not with his scoring runs, but in an another category wherein Gilly would hits sixers for the 98^th time.

Earlier to this, Brian lara was the rated as the highest with 88 sixers against his name. So far Gilchirst has hit 97 sixes in his 88 tests. Lara has played 131 tests for his 88 sixes.

With his current form, it seems Gilchirst is in a mood to complete 150 sixes when he would retire later. Gilchirst is always famous for his act in 2004 when he hit great Srilankan Spinner Muttiah Muralitharan “doosra” for continuous sixes.

Ronaldo, Scholes net stunners before christmas eve

MANCHESTER United star Wayne Rooney was omitted from the side for the first time in his English Premier League career this morning, but the Red Devils still defeated Aston Villa 3-0.

United condemned Aston Villa to a seventh game without a win after stunning strikes from midfield players Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Scholes.

The Red Devils produced a laboured first-half performance and seemed to be in danger of dropping precious points in the title race against Chelsea, but two moments of brilliance in the second half piled the pressure on the two-time defending champion ahead of its late kick-off game at Wigan.

Ronaldo, on the hour mark, mesmerised the Villa defence on the edge of the area and lashed an unstoppable shot past goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly after his initial shot had been blocked by Gary Cahill.

Scholes then powered home an incredible volley, in off the crossbar, from 20 metres yards as United finally made its superiority count.

Ronaldo thought he had added a third goal after he was played in by Rooney - on as a 66th-minute substitute - but he was flagged offside. But the Portugal internation did turn in Gary Neville's cross at the death to round off a satisfactory afternoon for the visitors.

Rooney had never before been dropped when available for a premiership fixture, and United manager Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to keep him fresh for the Christmas period initially appeared to be questionable.

Ryan Giggs was given a more forward role to partner France striker Louis Saha, but United was crying out for more firepower and Villa nearly stunned the league leader in the 14th minute.

Gareth Barry's free-kick was flicked on by Chris Sutton but young midfield player Craig Gardner headed against the post.

United produced a determined response, and Villa midfield player Gavin McCann nearly deflected Giggs's cross into his own net before Patrice Evra tested Kiraly with a low drive.

Ronaldo then danced his way through the home defence before driving narrowly wide from a tight angle in the 38th minute.

Villa was tidy in its approach work, but it lacked a proven predator and chairman Randy Lerner must be acutely aware that manager Martin O'Neill will need strong financial backing in the January transfer window.

Roger runs the show in 2006.........

Roger Federer was the dominant force in men's tennis once again in 2006, winning three of the four Grand Slams, while Amelie Mauresmo captured two of the four major titles in the women's game.

Andy Murray made his breakthrough in 2005 and this year he stepped up another level, forcing his way into the world's top 20 and signing up a top drawer coach who looks set to propel him to bigger and better things.

Rafael Nadal was the year's other major winner in the men's game, while Maria Sharapova and Justine Henin-Hardenne joined Mauresmo in celebrating Grand Slam success.

Russia won the Davis Cup for the second time, beating Argentina in Moscow, and Italy became Fed Cup champions for the first time with a surprise win over Belgium.

And 2006 also saw the return to action of former women's world number one Martina Hingis after a three-year retirement.

Hingis achieved perhaps as much as she could have hoped for, winning two titles, qualifying for the WTA Tour Championship and reaching seventh place in the world rankings.

The year began with Federer's third successive Grand Slam success after his victories at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2005.

Glenn Mcgrath to retire after World Cup…

AUSTRALIA paceman Glenn McGrath has ended days of intense speculation by confirming he will retire after the 2007 Cricket World Cup.

The Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground and McGrath's home-town game at Sydney Cricket Ground consequently will see the fast bowler bow out alongside leg-spinning genius Shane Warne.

McGrath's announcement, which he said had been on his mind only for "the last few games", came two days after Warne confirmed his imminent retirement.

"The plan we came up with was for Shane to announce it before the Melbourne game and I was going to announce it before Sydney," McGrath said.

"(But) with the scrutiny and the hearsay and what's happened mainly in the last few days, I wanted to get it out in the open, get it over and done with, basically, so we could get back and concentrate on the last two Tests.

"For me personally, going through the Test and trying to deny I'm retiring without lying, it's a bit tough - I feel I've always been quite honest."

McGrath also admitted he had spoken to some teammates about wanting to retire.

His announcement was a lower-profile event than Warne's, which was held in front of a media throng at the MCC dining room.

By contrast, McGrath held his press conference in the workmanlike surroundings of the MCG indoor nets.

McGrath said his retirement was unrelated to wife Jane, who continues to battle breast cancer.

"In respect to Jane, her health has nothing to do with the decision that I've made here today, or over the last few weeks," he said.

But McGrath said he wanted to spend more time with Jane and their children, James and Holly.

McGrath is the most prolific Test paceman in history with 555 wickets.

Murali under scanner again…..

Former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe has called for the ICC to review Muttiah Muralitharan's bowling action, specifically the doosra - the delivery that leaves the right-handed batsman.

Crowe suggested that Muralitharan needed to be monitored more often to ensure his arm was not flexing more than permitted.

During Sri Lanka's recent 217-run Test win at Wellington, Crowe, currently a television commentator, claimed Murali's action deteriorated during a match-winning spell on day four and needed to be reassessed.

Following the match, Crowe sent an e-mail detailing his concerns to the ICC. It was reported that he planned to include video footage.

However, according to captain Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lankan board has prepared a full-bodied defence should the ICC hold an inquiry into the matter.

Isn't it really shameful on the part of ICC that such a great bowler is put under pressure once again after being cleared of all the allegations …Do share your views with me ,

TEAM INDIA BACK TO WORK

After the cheering crowd disperse, and the last bottle of champagne is drained, these men have to return to the battlefield and start all over again.

Yes, the victory is sweet but it doesn't necessarily make life any easier in the next match or even the next day. The golden words of legendary basketball coach Phil Jackson ring true for Dravid and his boys.

Team India achieved a unique high at the Wanderers but that's now history. Their opponent will be thirsting for revenge come Tuesday.

"They are a very good team, they will bounce back strongly. Their pride would have been hurt and they will be looking to turn the tables. Hopefully we will be strong enough to resist them," says coach Greg Chappell.

Obviously the opponents will target the areas where Team India is still struggling. And one of those is the patchy form of the the openers.

Virender Sehwag and Wasim Jaffer have failed to give stability and the chairman of the National Selection Committee Dilip Vengsarkar has sent out a subtle message.
"I can't say at the moment 'who will do well' and 'who will not do well'. The thing is that they will have to perform, that's important," Vengsarkar says.

Even experienced batsmen like Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar will know they have to make their starts count. The bowlers will have to ensure that Johannesburg wasn't a flash in the pan.

Warne-McGrath to retire from Tests

Australia's legendary bowlers Shane Keith Warne and Glenn Donald McGrath are all set to announce their retirement from international cricket on Thursday.

According to Australian media reports, Warne will announce his retirement effective from the fifth and final Test of the Ashes series in Sydney that ends on January 6.
He retired form One-Day cricket in January 2003 though he played an ODI for ICC World XI against Asia XI for tsunami relief on January 10, 2005.

The veteran leggie is one short of completing 700 Test wickets going into the fourth Test at his home ground in Melbourne.

Pacer McGrath is expected to announce his retirement from international cricket after the Test although he is expected to play on till the World Cup.

Reacting to the news that two of Australia’s premier bowlers would retire simultaneously, Cricket Australia's Peter Young said: ‘There is nothing we can say.’Those two players are the masters of their own destiny and the owners of their own futures and when they announce decisions on their futures is up to them.’
Just before the Perth Test middle order batsman Damien Martyn had announced his retirement sending shock waves across Australian cricket.

After the Perth Test win Warne had hinted that he was contemplating retirement.
With the Australian players and fans celebrating the Ashes series win, Warne said: ‘These are the things you're going to miss. I'm closer to the end than the bloody start.’

He has signed a contract with Channel 9 and will join the commentator’s team in 2007.
For more than a decade both Warne and McGrath have been the fulcrums of Australian bowling attack and together with Martyn's retirement, their departure will signal a generational change in Australian cricket.

Sreesanth adds a new colour to the Indian Cricket Team

Indian wins abroad have usually been historic but this one against South Africa will be really special, because a genuine fast bowler has been discovered.

Shantakumaran Sreesanth is not hype but a reality and his figures of (8-99) at the wanderers have celebrated cricketers struggling for encomiums and praise. The man of the match in the first match between India and South Africa went to a man playing only his sixth Test. At Johannesburg the Kerala Express has rampaging, be it with the red cherry, or the flashing willow. Sreesanth is leaving a trail of carnage everywhere and to the keen eye, he is a man with a bright future. It isn't just on the African Safari that the Kerala lad has delivered. A superb spell in Jamaica against West Indies earlier this year had the praises flowing in from the likes of Brian Lara.


But he is not resting on the laurels. After running through the Proteas at the Bullring, Sreesanth perhaps answered the prayers of his parents too.

Sreesanth`s skills and discipline in line and length suggest a man who burns bright in his devotion to his craft. He has a cross as the locket around his neck even though he is a practicing Hindu, he is not averse to stand outside a Masjid and seek divine blessings.

Much of Sreesanth`s rise can be attributed to MRF Pace Academy and the influence of Dennis Lillee. He still carries the cutting of a newspaper where Lillee had predicted three of his wards to play for India - and indeed, Munaf Patel, Sreesanth and Irfan Pathan, have come to fulfil the prophecy.

LEE-HESH split forever....

In what is seen as a big blow to Indian tennis, Paes has reportedly said that he would not play with Mahesh Bhupathi ‘on a regular basis.’

Bhupathi reacted by saying he was ‘hurt’ and ‘disappointed’. Bhupathi said he had held his tongue throughout the tournament to concentrate on wining gold for India. "The goal was to win a gold medal for India and that has been done," he added.

The Lee-Hesh duo had earlier in the day won the men’s doubles gold at the Asian Games at Doha creating hopes of a revival of the ‘Indian Express’ magic.

In an interview to a TV channel, Bhupathi said he was hurt by Paes’ comments for the last 12 years and that the last 10 days have been like living through a ‘soap opera’. He added that it was clear that Leander 'never wanted to play with me'. He said that he was happy their partnership ended on a high and called their ‘split’ the greatest tragedy for Indian sports.

Hi Friends , this would seem to be a big blow to indian tennis , Come on guys lets come up together and make them solve their disputes.

Testing time for Team India .......

India have played nine Test matches in South Africa and have not won even a single Test.But their record at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, where the first Test of the current series starts form December 15, is a lot better,

The Indian cricket team have played two Tests at Johannesburg (1992 and 1996) and have managed to draw both the matches.Over the next 22 days, Rahul Dravid and his boys will play 15 days of the toughest Test cricket possible.

The three-match Test series against South Africa will be their chance to make history or become history.

Not too many experts are giving them a chance as so far on the tour, the batting has been spineless, bowlers have chocked at key moments and India have never looked like a unit keen to fight.

"I think it is nice to go to with not many people giving you any chance. I think we as a team believe that we have got a very good chance. We believe that if we play up to our potential and play a good cricket, which we know we can, we can win the series. We have got very good players in the team," Dravid said.

The team management will be burning the midnight oil to come up with the final XI.

India are likely to go in to the match with six batsmen, a keeper and four bowlers, which means that former skipper Sourav Ganguly is a certainty.In the bowling department Zaheer Khan, S Sreesanth and Anil Kumble have booked their places.VRV Singh's raw pace has meant that he will be the fourth bowler in the team.

But one thing is sure, whatever the playing XI, South Africa will come at Team India hard with a five-man pace attack."Hopefully we can put everything into play as we did in the One-Day series. All our channels, every game plan we had paid off so hopefully in the Test series we can do the same," South Africa skipper Graeme Smith said.

After the debacle in the ODI series, Team India is looking to start a fresh in the first Test in Johannesburg.

The return of Rahul Dravid has strengthened the Indian batting line up. But the likes of Makhaya Ntini and Dale Steyn will be looking forward to Test the Indian batsmen on the fast and bouncy pitch of the Wanderers.

Warne in sight of another ‘milestone’.....

The forecast of a spin-friendly WACA wicket could see champion Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne become the first bowler to claim 700 Test wickets during the third Ashes Test.

After his fifth day heroics in Adelaide, Warne is poised on 694 Test wickets and sure to reach the milestone during the series.

While Warne would like to reach the mark in front of his home crowd at the MCG in the fourth Test, starting on December 26, he could do so at the WACA when the third Test starts here Thursday.

The pitch has long been regarded as the home of fast bowling but has been increasingly helpful to spinners in recent seasons.

Warne has generally struggled at the WACA, with 32 wickets in 11 Tests at 37.28, well below his career record.

He also struggled in Perth earlier this season, taking 1-113 for Victoria against Western Australia in a match during which his frustration built to a point where he bowled consecutive bouncers.

Warne's best Test haul in Perth is six wickets, a figure he has achieved three times, including last year against South Africa, but this season the leading wicket-taker at the venue is local left-arm finger spinner Aaron Heal by a good margin.

Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, who said Warne was a like a "vulture circling" on the final day of the second Test in Adelaide, doubted it would be a traditionally fast and bouncy wicket.

"The results prove spin has worked," Gilchrist said here Tuesday of the WACA. "Last year (against South Africa) spin was a good option.

"We could have done with another spinner on the last day even though we had the greatest spinner ever bowling.

"That was our approach - to get into the footmarks. It seems they come into play (at the WACA) more than they have traditionally done so."

Larsson thrilled with 'new challenge' ........

Even by his own exacting standards the events of the past week have been quite extraordinary for Henrik Larsson. Last Friday's announcement that the 35-year-old former FC Barcelona and Celtic FC striker would be joining Manchester United FC on a three-month loan took European football completely by surprise as Larsson took up the challenge of adding a final chapter to an already illustrious career.

Henrik is thrilled to get this move at this late stage of his career, barely able to contain his excitement. His whole family is happy with it, so he had no hesitation in saying yes. Now he is really looking forward to playing in the Premiership.

Larsson is thrilled to take up the new challenge, but still I think it would be really for him to prove when he gets the chance to play in the eleven. It remains to be seen what impact Larsson will make at United between 1 January and 12 March next year but there's no doubting his determination to be a success.

However any sentiment will be cast aside just as his goodwill towards Barcelona will evaporate should they be drawn together in the UEFA Champions League. Given the sense of drama that has permeated Larsson's career, few would bet against such a scenario.

Pressure mounts on Sehwag , Sachin....

Its time India’s two most prolific run getters Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag deliver to their team’s cause when the first of the three Test matches gets under way at Johannesburg from December 15.

Lots has been said about the two players’ present form and with the team’s performance dipping to its all time low (just one win on the current tour), the fans back home deserve a better efforts from the two stalwarts.

Nobody can question their talent as the highest century maker in the history of Test cricket and as the only Indian to score a triple century in Test cricket respectively, but it is the way they are getting out after getting set on tailor made wickets for their type of stroke play is what’s bothering the public.

Both the batsmen love to play their shots from the word go. They don’t believe in grafting for runs. If they see a lose delivery, they simply like to hit it as hard as possible.

They are one of a kind who believe in unsettling the rival bowlers by attacking them from the word go and the South African wickets give them the advantage of playing their shots without flinching even a little bit.

Unfortunately, they seem to have lost confidence in their ability so far on this tour.
However, at the Johannesburg, which is considered as the slowest amongst the South African wickets, where the ball comes at a predictable height, both have a very good chance of striking form.

So far, the likes of Shaun Pollock, Andre Nel, Makhaya Nitni and others have troubled the Indian pair with extra bounce but at Johannesburg they will be forced to bend their backs that extra bit and if the Indian batsmen bide their time and wear out the opposition bowlers then the visitors have a very good chance of making a match of it.

So Viru’s contribution higher up the order and Sachin’s role in the middle is vital to change the fortunes of the side, which also has the solid batsmen like skipper Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, another struggling batsmen but dangerous once he gets going, in the middle along with a rejuvenated former skipper Sourav Ganguly.

Come on friends , lets support Viru & Sachin .......

Dada back from the ruins

And the man with more than 15,000 runs in international cricket showed on Thursday night against Rest of South Africa at Sedgars Park, Potchefstroom, that he still has a lot to offer to Indian cricket. Ganguly’s recall was not with reason. With the Indian batsmen finding the South African pacers too hot, the selectors were left with little choice

He is back, and back with a vengeance.Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly came back into the India Test squad after a gap of nearly nine months with the onerous responsibility of bringing Indian batting out of the rut.

And the man with more than 15,000 runs in international cricket showed on Thursday night against Rest of South Africa at Sedgars Park, Potchefstroom, that he still has a lot to offer to Indian cricket.

Coming in to bat when India were tottering at 37/3, Ganguly took his time to settle down and even a hit on his helmet off a Mornantau Hayward scorcher could not prevent him from playing the role of a saviour.

His 83 runs not off 141 balls not only announced to the cricketing world that the master of off side was back but also the fact that his recall couldn’t have been more timely.His recall was not with reason. With the Indian batsmen finding the South African pacers too hot, the selectors were left with little choice.

The South African pacers had already demonstrated that the Indian batting lineup is made up of men of straw who tremble at the slightest hint of pace and bounce in the pitch.

In the four One-Dayers all of which Team India managed to lose by embarrassing margins, the batsmen failed to show that they deserve to play on the international stage.

Rahul Dravid's men could bat the full quota of 50 overs in only the last ODI at Johannesburg and there too they could score only 200. Some improvement form the first One-Dayer where the Indians were bowled out for only 91 runs lasting only 29.1 overs.

Are we seeing a comeback of Prince of Kolkata, Lets check it out in the real test which begins on 15th.

FREE BIRDS : Doping Ban lifted on Shoaib , Asif

Friends : What’s ur say on this , is this justified…

Pakistani pacers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif have been cleared of doping charges by a three-member tribunal.

Justice Fakhruddin G Ebrahim led the tribunal while the other members were former Test player, Hasib Ahsan and Dr Danish Zaheer, the President of the Pakistan Sports Medicine Federation.

Ebrahim and Hasib Ahsan voted in favour of the acquittal while Dr Zaheer was against the giving the duo a clean chit.

Ebrahim said the committee was setting aside the duo’s punishment.

“This appeals committee holds that Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif cannot be deemed to have committed a doping offense under PCB anti-doping regulations,” Ebrahim said.

"The ban and punishment imposed by the earlier tribunal is hereby set aside as being contrary to the provision of laws," he said

Ebrahim further said the committee found it was "clearly, plainly evident that Shoaib Akhtar nor Mohammad Asif were ever warned or cautioned against taking supplements." Neither player was "even provided with any international or local publication warning them against the use supplements."

It was the committee's "considered view that Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif have successfully established that they had an honest and reasonable belief that the supplements ingested by them did not contain any prohibited substances."

"We have exonerated both. We think their defence was under clause 4.5 of Pakistan Cricket Board anti-doping regulations. They have proved their case was of special circumstances and that is explained in clause 4.5. Then it was necessary to exonerate them," Ebrahim added.
Shoaib and Asif were banned for two and one years respectively by a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) tribunal on November 1 after testing positive for a banned substance Nandrolone.

The tribunal that had banned the duo was headed by barrister Shahid Hamid and the other members of the committee were former Test skipper Intikhab Alam and Waqar Ahmed who is a doping expert.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TONIGHT : SIR ALEX CALLS FOR KILLER TOUCH

Just like last season Manchester United FC find themselves in a do-or-die duel with SL Benfica but according to Sir Alex Ferguson, this time they have only themselves to blame. Successive defeats at FC København and Celtic FC have left United needing a point to progress from Group F against Portuguese visitors who proved their nemesis 12 months ago – prompting the manager to bemoan his club's seeming fondness for "doing it the hard way".

"It is a surprise, but you look at the history of our club and we seem to enjoy doing that - putting our poor supporters on a knife edge," said Sir Alex, who hopes his players find the ruthless touch they lacked in losing to Celtic on Matchday 5. "We have to take our chances when we control a game. If we have control, and I hope we will have, then we have to finish it off. It worries you but then you say to yourself, trust them because some day someone is going to suffer and I hope it is Wednesday night. The team are playing with such penetration and speed you are confident they will make chances."

Benfica came from behind to beat United 2-1 in Lisbon on 7 December last year, denying them a place in the UEFA Champions League knockout stage for the first time since 1994/95. "Our pride was terribly hurt," recalled Sir Alex, who believes that setback acted as a spur to his players, who in 55 games since have won 38 and lost just eight. "Sometimes out of bad comes good. I think we are playing better - there is no question about that. Our form has been excellent." Saturday's 2-1 victory at Middlesbrough FC put them six points clear at the Premiership summit and, according to Benfica coach Fernando Santos, United are "a different team this year, much stronger and challenging at the top of their league".

For Benfica, two points behind Celtic and United, only one result will do. "This is a one-off game, a final," said Santos. "We're going to try to achieve what we set out to do at the start - to reach the knockout stage." Benfica's record in England does not augur well, with eight defeats in ten matches, but they won 2-0 at Liverpool FC on their most recent visit in March, en route to the quarter-finals, and arrived here buoyed by a 2-0 triumph at neighbours Sporting Clube de Portugal last Friday.

"I hope we can play even better than at the weekend," said Santos. "It is possible to beat United but it'll have to be a great Benfica performance. We have to be organised, compact, defend well and play well - and that means making opportunities to score and scoring them. If we get chances we have to take them." Portuguese teams have eliminated United in two of their previous three European campaigns but, predicting an open game, Sir Alex promised his players would show no caution. "Going for draws is not on the agenda of Man Utd and we will be going for the win."

Wait is over : Ganguly joins mates in SA

Sourav Ganguly arrived in Johannesburg on Tuesday after getting delayed by a day due to visa problems.

Ganguly was chosen in the Indian Test team after a gap of almost 10 months and will be under tremendous pressure to perform after the Team India was drubbed 4-0 in the One-Day series.

The most important factor was Dada directly joined the team for the net practice which indeed suggests there is something which Dada wants to prove to the selectors.Also followed with interest will be his equation with India coach Greg Chappell. India play a practice game starting on Thursday before the first Test begins on December 15.

Ganguly, sporting the India blazer, joined his mates in the nets at the Sedgars Park where the rest of the team was practising.

Ganguly, the country's most successful Test skipper, stood for a while in the nets before walking up to Chappell, with whom he has not had the best of relations, and shaking hands with him.

Can we expect a good performance from Dada ? reply me...

Poor Team performance has let us down, why do we point out on coach

Team India have been routed by South Africa in the five-match One-Day series 0-4 after the first ODI was rained out.

The humiliating loss is being blamed on too much experimentation by coach Greg Chappell and the inability of the Indian batsmen to come to terms with the extra pace and bounce of the South African pitches.

After the defeat in Centurion on Sunday, Chappell said it was poor batting that has let the team down.

"The remedies have to come from the players themselves. They have to try and come to grips with the conditions. No one else can do it for them. We can only say that our batting was bad and that's a fact. I don't know what else you want us to say but no one is trying to bat badly. It happens," Chappell said.

He also asked the crickets fans back home who have been demanding Chappell's removal to support the Indian team.

"I can't keep giving messages to Indian fans. They have to just support the team as much as they can," Chappell added.

While Team India is feeling the heat after the poor performance in the ODIs, the South Africans are determined to keep up the pressure in the upcoming Test series too.
"I don't expect the wickets to be any different. I expect them to have good pace and bounce. Our bowling attack is full of confidence right now. We just have to adapt our game plans to the longer version of the game," South African skipper Graeme Smith said.

Man of the series in the ODI series, Shaun Pollock said that the secret of his success was bowling as per plan. Pollock told media

"I just tried to bowl as per the plan. Obviously the ball does a little bit and I try to build up the pressure. Makhaya and I have struck a good partnership and we have managed to strike every time in the series and put the Indians under pressure. That has been the key. We have had them two down very early and they haven't been able to recover.

The pitches couldn’t be blamed as Team India have won many series at home and abroad. India lost the five-match One-Day series 0-4 after the first match at Johannesburg was rained out. The Indians managed to bat for their full quota of 50 overs only in the final match at Centurion on Sunday but even then they could only put up 200 runs on board.

The three-match Test series starts on December 15 with the first Test at Johannesburg. Saurav can be added advantage to the team with lots of runs behind him during his last tour.