Sachin slams ton as India end on 341

West Indies captain Brian Lara won the toss and elected to bowl in the fourth and final One-Dayer at the IPCL Stadium at Vadodara against India on Wednesday.

With confidence teeming on the faces of Team India's openers, Sourav Ganguly, who returned to the side replacing Gautam Gambhir, and Robin Uthappa, started on a promising note, picking boundaries from each of the initial overs of Daren Powell and Dwayne Smith.

Uthappa began from where he left off in Chennai, spanking a couple of sixes from Daren Powell in the seventh over. But the batsman had to pay next ball with his wicket to the bowler, edging the ball to the slips and departing for 28.

The dismissal brought India skipper Rahul Dravid in the middle with the score at 47 for one.

Sourav Ganguly though, continued his good run of form, dispatching balls square of the wicket with much flourish, and stepping out to upset the rhythm of the bowlers all the more.

The Indians had raced to 93/1 after 15 overs. Ganguly, the major contributor to the run feast, reached his 62nd ODI 50 from 58 balls shortly after, while Dravid was going steady at 17.

The change in the bowling attack brought some respite to the West Indies, with spinners Marlon Samuels and Chris Gayle pegging the Indians back after a rollicking start.

Ganguly’s entertaining knock of 68 ended when Gayle put an end to his efforts, the batsman missing the line of the ball and getting out stumped by ‘keeper Denesh Ramdin; India 148/2.

With Tendulkar joining Dravid at the crease, the Indians carried the attack forward post Ganguly’s dismissal. Though the number of boundaries diminished, runs continued to flow with frequent singles, and Sachin Tendulkar showing a spring in his step.

Dravid brought up his 50, collecting his runs from all round the wicket, while Tendulkar banked on his powerful drives to keep the runs flowing. The master blaster, back in the number four position on Wednesday, brought up his 76th 50 from just 46 balls, five boundaries assisting him on the way.

The overs at the death saw boundaries aplenty, with Tendulkar at his improvising best, helping the fast bowlers around the park to good effect, taking the run rate over the six an over mark.

The Indian skipper was out trying to step up the tempo, caught in the deep after a superb 77, coming with the help of seven fours.

Tendulkar, criticised of late for his uncharacteristic showing despite of getting decent runs, returned nearly to his best, bettering a run-a-ball and looked poised for triple figures.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who joined Tendulkar as Dravid departed, wielded the willow in a unique manner, digging out near-yorkers and smashing sixes.

The dying stages saw sixes raining at the IPCL Stadium, Dhoni and Tendulkar taking the Indian score past the 300-run mark. The wicketkeeper-batsman’s share of the sixes landed outside the park, while Lara dropped Tendulkar in the penultimate over.

India made three changes to the team that played in Chennai, bringing in Sourav Ganguly, M S Dhoni and Irfan Pathan at the expense of Gautam Gambhir, Dinesh Karthik and Ramesh Powar.

West Indies omitted Dwayne Bravo from their 12, the all-rounder failing to recover fully from injury. Jerome Taylor was rested for the game while Runako Morton was kept as 12th man. Shivnarine Chandepaul, Dwayne Smith and Ian Bradshaw returned to the side.

Farhat sent home while Afridi , Nazir called up …

Opener Imran Farhat is the fifth player who has been not considered for the forthcoming Twenty20 match and the five One-day Internationals against South Africa.

At the start of the third Test at Cape Town, the selectors had axed four players – Shahid Nazir, Asim Kamal, Faisal Iqbal and Danish Kaneria – while announcing the team for the shorter-version of the game, starting from Feb 2, but pending one more change from the Test playing squad till the end of the third Test.

It was expected the selectors will give rest to wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal, due to his poor run with the gloves in the series, but the axe fell on Imran.

"It’s a unanimous decision taken by the selectors and the team management," chief selector Wasim Bari told Dawn.

"Though Kamran needs rest because it always helps a player regain form, but he has been retained as the first-choice wicket-keeper," he said.

Meanwhile, all five players left to join the Pakistan team in South Africa for the ODI series. Imran Nazir, Shabbir Ahmed, Abdul Razzaq and Abdur Rehman left from Lahore while Shahid Afridi was to leave from Karachi.

In the meantime, Shoaib Akhtar has been given a 10-day rest for recovering from his hamstring injury examined by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Medical Commission on Monday.

Shoaib, who left back home from South Africa last week due to injury appeared, before the commission, which found that his hamstring problem wasn’t serious, advised him to rest for 10 days for a complete recovery before the World Cup.

Meanwhile, unfit pacer Umar Gul will report to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) on Wednesday to start the rehabilitation process of his ankle.

Gilchrist believes Hayden is the right partner in World cup …

Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist believes Matthew Hayden is the right man to partner him at the top of the order at the upcoming World Cup.

Hayden made the most of three missed chances, two before he reached double figures, to score his first One-Day century in almost two years against New Zealand at Perth on Sunday.

Hayden's 117 against the Black Caps was his first substantial score in the tri-series, having controversially been recalled to the Australian side for the tournament.

Gilchrist believes the century was the turning point for Hayden's endangered One-Day career and said he was confident the big left-hander would be his opening partner in the West Indies.

"I fully expect Haydos to go to the World Cup," Gilchrist said on Monday.

"I think he is re-establishing himself at the top of the order very well and he'll be much better for the innings the other night,” Gilchrist said.

“We started this series well by way of partnerships, and haven't had too many big ones since then, but that is something we will work on. It was really pleasing to see Haydos come through with an individual result. Hopefully that will settle him down and keep the concerns away about what that (opening) partnership is going to be," he said.

Gilchrist has opened with the forgotten Simon Katich and the injury-plagued Queensland all-rounder Shane Watson recently, batting with Watson at last year's Champions Trophy.

However, he said he was comfortable with his fellow 35-year-old at the other end.

"It feels like it has worked well when we have played together," he said of Hayden.

"He is terrific to bat with and I think we complement each other pretty well."

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting also threw his support behind Hayden.

"I think Matty started the series off really well, but let a couple of scores get away," he said.

Raikkonen, Massa to rock Abu Dhabi .....

Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro has confirmed that its drivers for the 2007 F1 World Championship season, Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen, will be in Abu Dhabi to take part in the F1 Festival on Saturday, February 3,2007.

The event is now confirmed as the largest gathering of F1 cars and drivers ever assembled outside of a Grand Prix event.

"We are absolutely delighted that Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro will be bringing their drivers and their cars to race through the streets of Abu Dhabi - in what is now a matter of days," commented Shaikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nayhan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.

"Ferrari enjoys a unique relationship with its fans around the world and the UAE is no exception. This will be a rare opportunity for fans to see their heroes up close."

Felipe Massa is tagged as the great new Brazilian hope. Brazil have a strong tradition of producing great F1 drivers, such as Ayrton Senna. Massa has won several GPs. His most memorable win of 2006 took place in his home Grand Prix in Brazil where he beat Kimi, Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso.

Kimi Raikkonen joined Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro during the close season.

Both he and Massa will race the all-new F2007 race car in this year's Championship, with much expected from the pair building on the team's success in the 2006 season. Raikkonen finished second in the Championship twice in 2003 and 2005.

Many people expect Massa and Raikkonen to push current World Champion Fernando Alonso — who will also race in Abu Dhabi — hard throughout this year's race calendar in their efforts to claim a maiden world title.

Following the announcement earlier this month that Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Development had become a sponsor of the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, The Abu Dhabi F1 festival will also be the first time that fans will see the Mubadala brand on an Ferrari F1 car in action. The Mubadala brand is also a logo that will be seen on the Ferrari drivers' caps during the 2007 season.

The F1 Festival is free to the public. The street has been specially designed to give spectators access to the thrills of Formula One. It will stretch along Abu Dhabi's waterfront Corniche, from the Emirates Palace to the Marina Mall. This spectacular event is open to everyone. Additional details including the most advantageous viewing areas, road closures and parking facilities will be announced shortly.

Great fightback by Oram couldn’t stop the Aussies …

Australia held on to beat New Zealand by just eight runs in a high-scoring tri-series One-Day International featuring three centuries at the WACA on Sunday.

Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden both smashed hundreds in Australia's massive record total of 343 for five before Jacob Oram chalked up the fastest One-Day ton by a New Zealander to take his team to 335-5.

New Zealand fell just short of their victory target but their performance was a timely confidence boost ahead of their next match against England on Tuesday.

Ponting belted 111 off 122 balls in a flawless performance that earned him the man-of-the-match award while Hayden made 117 from 111 deliveries as Australia set a record for the highest One-Day total at the WACA on a scorching hot day when the temperatures exceeded 41 degrees Celsius.

The pair shared a 200-run partnership for the second wicket after Adam Gilchrist departed cheaply for 13 before Mike Hussey (29 not out), Andrew Symonds (24) and Cameron White (20 not out) piled on 100 runs from the last 10 overs to take the Australian total soaring past 300.

Ponting struck eight boundaries and a six in a superb innings to chalk up his 21st one-day international ton, while Hayden rode his luck after being dropped on nought, four and 79 to bring up his sixth One-Day 100 in an innings that featured 15 fours.

He was eventually bowled by Daniel Vettori, who had dropped him before he had got off the mark, while Ponting was caught in the deep by Peter Fulton.

Michael Clarke made just seven before the late flurry from Symonds, Hussey and White, who hit six sixes between them, gave Australia the extra runs which ultimately proved decisive.

New Zealand made a strong start to their reply with opener Lou Vincent blasting 62 off 88 balls before he was unluckily given out lbw to Clarke, while Stephen Fleming (28), Fulton (23) and Ross Taylor (39) all made valuable runs.

Their chances of getting close to Australia's total looked doomed when they slumped to 198-5 before Oram and Brendon McCullum (46 not out) piled on 137 without loss in less than 15 overs to set up a thrilling finish that was interrupted by a half-hour rain delay.

Oram smashed four fours and six sixes to reach his hundred off just 71 balls and eclipse the New Zealand record of 75 balls for the fastest century, jointly held by Chris Cairns and Craig McMillan, before they ran out of overs.

Ponting, Hayden secure a place in Triseries final ..

Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting made centuries in a 200-run second-wicket partnership Sunday to steer Australia to 343 for five in a tri-series limited-overs match against New Zealand on Sunday.

Hayden made 117 from 111 balls in an innings which likely secured his place in Australia's squad for this year's World Cup. Ponting made 111, ensuring Australia reached the highest score by any team in a limited-overs match at the WACA Ground.

Hayden's 50 came from 67 balls and his century from 104, his second 50 from 37 balls amid a barrage of boundaries, as he posted his sixth hundred in 127 limited overs internationals.

Ponting batted in Hayden's shadow early in his innings but still reached his half century from 62 balls then accelerated to reach his century from 113 deliveries.

The century was his 21st in 266 One-Day Internationals, his third against New Zealand and his first at the WACA.

Hayden and Ponting came together when Australia, batting after winning the toss, were 28 for one following the dismissal of Adam Gilchrist for 13. They reached their 100-run partnership from 113 balls and their 200 partnership from 203 as they kept up a run rate of almost a run per ball.

New Zealand used seven bowlers in a desperate attempt to stem Australia's scoring, but only Daniel Vettori, who took one for 34 from 10 overs, managed to contain the Australians.

Wayward bowling and inept fielding allowed the Australians to amass the big total. Hayden was dropped twice, first by Vettori on 0, and throughout the Australian innings the New Zealanders floundered like novices in the field.

New Zealand's leading bowler Shane Bond once again failed to appear in the match, team bulletins said he was resting, but his absence continued his history of no shows in difficult matches.

Those who did turn up, and particularly Jacob Oram and Kyle Mills who had missed most of the series with suspected injuries, bowled poorly and were treated with contempt by the Australian batsman.

Oram, who missed most of the series with a hamstring injury, the latest of a series of complaints which have blighted his career, was smashed for 50 runs from five overs. Hayden, particularly, cashed in on Oram's repertoire of wide, short-pitched deliveries and half volleys.

Mills dismissed Gilchrist but gave up 72 from 10 overs for only that reward. Mark Gillespie conceded 76 runs from 10 overs but dismissed Andrew Symonds, who dashed 24 runs from 13 balls late in the innings.

Michael Hussey smashed 29 from 16 balls with three sixes and Cameron White 24 from 12 balls with a four and a six in a late, unbroken stand of 50 for the sixth wicket.

Lara predicts Sachin would deliver in the World Cup …

West Indies captain Brian Lara on Friday predicted that Sachin Tendulkar would display some "great cricket" in the forthcoming World Cup. He said Sushmita Sen was his favourite Bollywood actress.

Interacting with fans at a charity event in Chennai on Friday evening, Lara said that former Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram was the toughest bowler he has ever faced. "In the Indian side, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh are very tough to play against," the West Indian cricketer said.

Commenting on his contemporary batting rival Sachin Tendulkar, who is currently going through a lean form, Lara said: "I am in awe of Sachin. He has done so much for cricket in India...and you may see Sachin back to his best in the World Cup". "I don't think Sachin is going through any bad patch.

"I have had more ups and downs than Sachin. He is going to be 'the' batsman in the World Cup".

The March 13-April 28 World Cup will be played in the West Indies.

The Caribbean also spoke briefly on popular Hindi film actress Sushmita Sen, terming her as his favourite.

"I think she is the best...I have had the opportunity to interact with her a couple of years ago in the West Indies," Lara said.

India confident of series win in Chennai ...

Team India are assured that the series now can not be lost after winning the first two matches of the four-ODI series.

But the team management is looking beyond the current series to the World Cup and every game is being used to find clues towards what the ideal combination will be.For the Chennai game Sourav Ganguly, Zaheer Khan, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh have been rested.

There is still a brace around his knee but Yuvraj Singh's return is a huge plus for Team India.
Yuvraj's consistency over the last year or so has been pivotal in the One-Day team and the skipper expects him to be a central figure in the World Cup.

"Yuvraj is looking really good. He is fully fit medically, it's just a question for him playing games now psychologically. He has bolwed in the nest, he has bowled in the Twenty20 (in Kolkata), he has batted, he is feeling really good and while talking to him, he sounds really confident. That's a great sign for us," India captain Rahul Dravid says.

Yuvraj will take his place in the middle order, where places seem more or less taken. But the search for the ideal pair to open goes on.

Ganguly's triumphant return means he is a leading contender and has been rested in Chennai to allow Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa to have a go.

"We are just trying to give some opportunities to some of the younger boys. It also gives us a chance to rotate some of the more senior players who have been playing quite a bit of cricket as well," Dravid adds.

Two straight wins have meant that the Indian team is high on confidence and hungry to build on the momentum.And it is a fact that is not lost on the West Indies skipper too.
"What I can tell you now is that they (the Indians) look hungry, they are looking like a team that's desperate for wins. And of course, their results haven't been good in the recent past. And leading up to the World Cup where there are a billion people following you, you need to leave them some sort of hope," West Indies captain Brian Lara says.

After a run feast in Nagpur and a low-scoring thriller at Cuttack, Chennai might just even out the test between bat and ball. And better, because for the West Indies the series is on the line.

Serena storms into final waits for Sharapova/Clijters ….

Serena Williams has become the first unseeded woman to make the Australian Open final for eight years, ousting Czech No.10 seed Nicole Vaidisova in straight-sets on Rod Laver Arena.

Williams, the 2003 and 2005 champion, overcame a slow start to take a tight match 7-6(5) 6-4 and set up a final showdown with either Kim Clijsters or Maria Sharapova.

Vaidisova got a break in the opening game of the match, before Williams snatched it back in the sixth game. The Czech teenager then broke again and she served for the set in the tenth game.

But Williams rescued a set-point and took it to a tiebreaker, where she won the first four points. Vaidisova rallied to square it at 5-5, but cost herself the set with a forehand into the net when Williams had set point.
The first three games of the second set went against serve, before Williams held for a 3-1 lead. A crucial double fault in Vaidisova's next service game handed Williams another break, and she soon had a grip on a spot in the final with a 5-1 advantage. The Czech held her next service game, and then got a break back with sensational backhand winner which left the American flat-footed.

The brave 17-year-old then saved four match points in her next service game, getting the scoreline back to 4-5. She rescued another as Williams served for the match, before Williams finally sealed it with an overhead smash.

Strauss seeks rest inspite of injuries to Seniors …

Australia rested Ricky Ponting last week and tomorrow, against England, Adam Gilchrist will take a break. For Duncan Fletcher, coach to an England team with their batting resources stretched to the limit, there are no such luxuries.

Fletcher has long hankered after giving Andrew Strauss a few days off to snap him out of an undistinguished Ashes tour, but with Kevin Pietersen and Michael Vaughan injured, and Marcus Trescothick absent due to a stress-related illness, he feels Strauss, as the only senior batsman left standing, must carry on regardless.

Fletcher allowed himself a moment of gallows humour at the thought that England might offer Strauss a rest cure. "We are petrified of giving guys rests, aren't we?" he laughed. "We try to give them rests but with the players missing at the moment we haven't got a batter here to replace Strauss. If we did have, we would probably look at giving him a rest."
But such a gamble would not be impossible. England could rest Strauss against Australia tomorrow, move Ed Joyce to opener and give Ravi Bopara a one-day debut at No4, in the hope that it would clear Strauss's mind in time to face New Zealand in Perth next Tuesday, a match that logic suggests will have more bearing on England's prospects of reaching the International Triangular Series final.

England tried to address Strauss's loss of purpose at the start of the one-day series, with Fletcher and Vaughan instructing him to forget thoughts of getting the innings away to a flyer, but to seek to bat for long periods, and allow others to bat more aggressively around him. Four games into the one-day series, he is no nearer a solution.

"We just feel that Strauss has to play his natural game," Fletcher said. "He knows his role - we had one-on-ones with every player in Sydney before we started this series - and it is to play like he does in Test cricket and let the side bat around him."

Strauss's inability to pierce the offside field has contributed to a woeful one-day series, but it was two hazardous pull shots against New Zealand's fast bowler, Shane Bond, neither of which made contact, in Tuesday's day-nighter that most revealed his confused state of mind. He made 19 from 33 balls before he was lbw to James Franklin and England subsided to a 90-run defeat.

Fletcher regards those pull shots as evidence of Strauss's "desperation". He said: "Desperation comes in where you try to do shots you are not really capable of playing. Your judgment becomes a bit clouded. There is pressure on Strauss."

He added: "Strauss is struggling, Paul Collingwood is struggling a bit. When you bring in new players, if your experienced players are struggling as well, it compounds the problem."

Fletcher's ability to revive Strauss's career is just one of a host of factors that will influence whether England will retain him as coach, or decide after the Ashes whitewash that he has now passed his sell-by date. He repeated that he will make his own judgment after the World Cup. "We'll just have to look at it, see if I've got the confidence of the players," he said. "If they've got the belief in you as a coach, that they know you can help them, that's the most important thing.

"Once I feel that 'hold on, I can't add value to the side or those players' then I will have a look at the situation and feel as though I am under pressure."

Despite Chanderpaul's innings , Indians break first Jinx ...

Team India have finally managed to get a One-Day win under their belt but not before a nail biting finish against West Indies in the first ODI at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on Sunday.

Giving a sparkling display of attacking batting, the host batsmen piled on a massive 338/3 in their 50 over but the West Indians were not to be cowed down as they went about chasing the target in trademark Caribbean style spanking the ball all around park.

However, in the end the visitors, despite man of the match Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s brilliant unbeaten 149 (16x4, 3x6) off 136 balls, fell short of the target to give the hosts victory by 14 runs to trail the four-match ODI series 0-1.

The Indian total was built around the good work by led by comeback man Sourav Ganguly who played a responsible knock of 98 ((11x4, 3x6) off 109 balls while Ganguly, back in the One-Day squad after nearly a year, played an innings that showed his full array of shots while his opening partner Gautam Gambhir came up with a well-made 69 off 75 balls as India took the early honours.

The wicket was tailor-made for batting with the host batsmen hitting 21 fours and 10 sixes while the visitors sent the ball to the boundary 35 times and six times over the boundary.
Most of the batsmen made full use of the ideal wicket conditions as the bowlers were made to look pedestrian.

However, both Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara missed the party though they showed glimpses of their talent scoring 31 each.

West Indies began the chase with Chris Gayle and Chanderpaul with the latter starting the scoring with two consecutive fours off S Sreesanth.

Sreesanth was again at the receiving end with Gayle being grassed by Sachin Tendulkar at the first slip. The batsman was on 11 and he celebrated the reprieve by sending the ball out of the ground for three consecutive fours in the same over.

With Chanderpaul too not missing any opportunity to score runs, the West Indies scoreboard was moving at a fast pace. Gayle was dealing in boundaries with none of the Indian bowlers making any impact on him.

Sreesanth, Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar were either too short or too wide giving enough width to the Caribbean batsmen to free their hands and play the shots.

Gayle brought up his 29th ODI 50 but was soon caught at the first slip by Rahul Dravid off Harbhajan Singh after making 52 with the help of 10 hits to the boundary.

The scoring rate dipped after Gayle’s departure and soon the second Caribbean batsman in the form of Runako Morton departed cleaned up by Harbhajan.

With the asking rate climbing and the Harbhajan and Tendulkar doing a good job in restricting the West Indians to well below the asking rate, the pressure started to mount.

Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels did try to up the scoring rate and both even lofted the ball outside the ground once each but failed to break the shackles.

Dravid then gave the ball to Zaheer who again did a good job and bowled Morton who was batting on 40 (3x4, 1x6) to bring the third West Indies wicket down.

That brought West Indies skipper Brain Lara in the middle and seeing the asking rate breaking through the roof he wasted little time in showing his class.

Taking the bull by the horns, Lara soon started to score freely hitting Harbhajan and Tendulkar for two massive sixes. But just when it looked that he would take the game away from India, Tendulkar fired a delivery outside the off stump.

Lara jumped out of the crease only to beaten and Dhoni coolly dislodged the bails. The Caribbean batting maestro scored 31 runs (2x4, 2x6).However, at the other end Chanderpaul had already reached his fifth ODI ton and was looking dangerous & but couldn't stop the Indians.

Irfan feels he still has to deliver a lot ...

Irfan Pathan is brimming with confidence. Whether it is his game or his newly-learnt driving skills, he's raring to go.

After his return from South Africa, Irfan Pathan has maintained a studied silence. However miffed he is by recent reports on his performance, he chooses to keep a distance from media and would rather not explain himself.

But the ice is finally melted when he puts everything off his mind for half an hour of fun with brother Yusuf Khan Pathan.

Humming a perfect rendering of 'Chalo re doli uthao kahar...' he begins his interview with "I have always dreamt of playing with Yusuf. This dream came true this year. That Ranji match will forever be special though we didn't realise it at the time we played it. We shared 15 wickets between us."

If anything, the criticism over his performance has only strengthened his spirit: "I believe one should work hard, have fun and enjoy life. I don't want any regrets in life... that I didn't give it my best. I don't want to tell my grandchildren I gave up, I wasn't good enough."

That is why, Pathan says, "It's important to have confidence in yourself. Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to sound overconfident or brash. I just believe in not underestimating myself. My core values in life are intact... I still have the fire; I know where I want to be."

This never-say-die spirit, says Pathan, has come from "the kind of childhood I have had. It was always home, family and the mosque. I have never seen the other side of the city, forget hearing of a thing called the nightclub. As children we were very grounded and the constant advise from my parents was: Always be kind to people who are less privileged than you."

Is marriage on cards? References to 'doli' and 'grandchildren' have left us wondering. "No, not now. I am committed.

To cricket." And then he chuckles softly, "The song? Well, I was just trying to show you that I can sing as well. As for marriage, my mom is very clear: Till 25, we will focus on our careers." With that, he packs off for home: "It's Friday. I have to say my prayers." And then he adds as an afterthought: "By the way, I learnt to drive a car recently. I got my license three months ago."

End of road for Hewitt ...

Fernando Gonzalez beat 19th seed Lleyton Hewitt 6-2 6-2 5-7 6-4 to end home hopes in the Australian Open.

Hewitt's exit means there will be no Australians in the fourth round for the first time since 2002.

Gonzalez, the 10th seed, made just two unforced errors as he swept into a two-set lead.

Hewitt recovered to take the third but quickly fell a break behind in the fourth and, despite saving three match points, could not respond again.

Before Hewitt took to the Rod Laver Arena, Alicia Molik, the last remaining Australian female in the tournament, was dumped out 3-6 6-2 6-0 by Patty Schnyder.

Hewitt had not enjoyed the best build-up to his home tournament, splitting with his coach Roger Rasheed and picking up a calf injury.

And he could find no answer to Gonzalez's combination of powerful hitting and delicate touches.

"If he's playing like that it's a matter of trying to weather the storm, there's not a whole lot you can do," said Hewitt, runner-up to Marat Safin in 2005.

"It's always hard to get your nose back in front, I was able to turn it around, but it's always going to be a tough ask.

"If I got into the fifth set I would have fancied my chances."

Gonzalez now faces fifth seed James Blake for a place in the quarter-finals.

"I don't remember if I have played a better tennis match because I played unbelievable for the first two sets and I was doing whatever I wanted with the ball," Gonzalez said.

Hussey guides Aussies to another victory …

Australia lost early wickets to slump to 30 for two chasing 156 to beat England in Friday's fourth tri-series one-day international at the Gabba in Brisbane.

Gilchrist and Hayden made a bright start to Australia's reply, putting on 26 for the opening wicket, before Gilchrist was caught in the deep by Anderson off Lewis for eight.

England struck again when Brad Hodge edged Anderson to Dalrymple at point for a duck.
England had failed to capitalise on their best start of the tour as they crumbled to 155 all out earlier.

After winning the toss and racing to 52 without loss in the 11th over, England's batting collapsed with all 10 wickets tumbling for 103 runs as the innings came to abrupt end in the 42nd over.
Glenn McGrath and Nathan Bracken took three wickets apiece for 24 runs while Brett Lee captured two wickets and Cameron White one.

Debut opener Mal Loye top scored for England with a run-a-ball 36 while Jamie Dalrymple chipped in with a patient 31 but Andrew Flintoff (27) was the only other batsman to make at least 20 with six players failing to reach double figures.

The tourists could not have hoped for a better start with Loye and Andrew Strauss both hitting early sixes to bring up the England 50 on a perfect batting deck when the wheels suddenly fell off.

Australia dismissed both England openers in successive overs then ripped through the fragile middle order, taking 6-41 to leave the visitors reeling at 93-6.

Loye, Ed Joyce (5), Paul Collingwood (no score) and Paul Nixon (9) were all caught behind, either by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist or Matthew Hayden at slip, while Strauss (18) fell to an acrobatic catch from Brad Hodge at midwicket.

But England's dismal performance was best summed up by the comical run out of Ian Bell, who was caught short of his ground as White rolled the ball along the ground and into the stumps with both batsmen running in the wrong direction.

Flintoff and Dalrymple were forced to buckle down to steady the innings but threw their wickets away trying to raise the run rate to leave the Australians perfectly placed for their third straight win of the series.

Vaughan injures again , beat Kiwis by 3 wkts …

England captain Michael Vaughan was forced to call for a runner after injuring his left leg in Tuesday's one-day international against New Zealand in Hobart.

Vaughan, who has only just returned to the England fold after two knee operations, needed help from Jamie Dalrymple after limping through the early overs of his innings.

England management told reporters Vaughan had twinged his hamstring while fielding in New Zealand's innings, although he appeared to be rubbing his left knee when he came out to bat.

Vaughan missed more than a year of international cricket after surgery on his right knee but it was his "good" knee that was troubling him on Tuesday.

He missed the Ashes test series against Australia but was recalled for the triangular one-day series after passing a fitness test.

Vaughan was able to walk without problems but could not stretch out fully when running, prompting him to call for assistance.

The injury did not appear to effect his batting and he slammed three boundaries in making 17 off 29 deliveries.

The third tri-series one-day international between England and New Zealand was evenly poised on Tuesday after England lost their fourth wicket with the score on 98 in reply to New Zealand's 205-9.

Federer cruises through as Ljubicic crashes out in first round ...

Defending champion Roger Federer romped to 7-5 6-0 6-4 victory over Bjorn Phau on the opening day of the Australian Open to book a place in the second round.

Phau had stormed into a 5-3 first-set advantage but Federer won 10 straight games to quickly claim a 2-0 advantage.

Federer needed three match points to finally see off Phau in the third set after letting the German recover from 3-1 down to level at 3-3.

The world number one will meet Jonas Bjorkman in the second round. The match will be a repeat of their 2006 Wimbledon semi-final which Federer won easily.

Bjorkman came from two sets down to beat France's Olivier Patience in his opening match on Monday.

In another game , Fourth seed Ivan Ljubicic crashed out of the Australian Open at the first hurdle on Monday.

Despite producing 28 aces on the Vodafone Arena at Melbourne Park, the big-serving Croat slipped to a 4-6 7-6 (7/2) 6-4 6-4 defeat at the hands of Mardy Fish.

Ljubicic, who made the final eight at Melbourne Park in 2006, got off to a good start with a solitary break enough to give him the first set in 41 minutes.

But Fish tightened up his service in a gripping second set, and Croatian Ljubicic could make no inroads, winning just nine points on his opponent's serve while conceding just 12 on his own.

Fish then settled better for the tie-break, squaring the match and wresting the momentum.

The American then gained early breaks of serve - his only breaks of the match - in both the third and fourth to clinch victory.

He completed his triumph in just under three hours to set up a second-round clash with Nicolas Mahut, of France.

Melbourne memories flood back to former finalist Baghdatis ...

Smiling Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis admits that the thrill of returning to the scene of his only Grand Slam final has left him keen to begin the 2007 Australian Open tomorrow.

He said yesterday that the feelings of anticipation began to grow on the ride to town from the airport.

“It was a bit weird, getting close to the hotel, it was a strange sensation,” said the number 11, who says he’s fine after an ankle injury score this week at the Sydney tournament.

“It’s great to be back, I’m really excited to go out there and play tennis.”

Baghdatis won the public’s heart at Melbourne Park a year ago as he lost a final to Roger Federer. Thousands of countrymen living in Australia packed the stands, including some of the player’s 20-odd cousins who live in Melbourne.

Even as he looks to the future, the 21-year-old took a dip into the past.

“I watched my final yesterday against Roger, some memories came back. I had a great run, that’s for sure. It was a good experience,” he said. “I was a bit disappointed that I lost. But, it’s 12 months ago — life continues.”

Bahrain to set pace for new F1 season ....

BAHRAIN will get a sneak preview of the 2007 Formula One season and also a chance to see world champion Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen in their new cars for the first time.

Alonso has moved from world champions Renault to McLaren while Raikkonen takes the Ferrari slot left vacant by Michael Schumacher who retired last year after an unparalleled seven titles.

"This will be another glittering feather in the BIC crown. We are indeed honoured to host all the teams before the first race of 2007," said BIC general manager Martin Whitaker.

The first testing and practice session will be held from February 22 to 24 and the second from February 27 to March 1 while the 2007 Formula One season kicks off in Melbourne on March 18 and the Bahrain race, the third of the series, is scheduled for April 15.

The second race of 2007 will be held in Malaysia on April 8.

"This is a clear indication of Bahrain's growing reputation as a leading Formula One venue," added Whitaker.

Last year BIC hosted three teams - Ferrari, Toro Rosso and Honda - for a practice session and this year it has more than tripled with McLaren, Renault, Red Bull, Super Aguri, Toyota, BMW and Williams coming for two separate practice sessions.

The only team that will be missed is newcomers Spyker, formerly Midland, who are yet to announce their pre-season practice schedule.

"We worked hard right through last year to get all the teams to test here and this is a reward for all that hardwork," added Whitaker.

Jerez, Barcelona and Valencia in Spain are generally the most favoured venues for winter practice, but Bahrain seems to have beaten them this year.

Another plus for Bahrain is that Bridgestone will be supplying the tyres to all the teams thus giving them an opportunity to collect vital data ahead of the first race of the season.

BIC will soon be releasing details of the practice timings and the opportunities for spectators to be part of the event.

Prince century boosts SA to pile up a huge total…

Ashwell Prince scored his sixth century to give South Africa the lead on the third day of the first Test against Pakistan in Centurion on Saturday.

Prince was dismissed for 138 with what became the last ball before lunch, which South Africa reached on 356 for five in reply to Pakistan's first innings total of 313.

The dismissal ended a dominating fifth-wicket stand of 213 and left Herschelle Gibbs alone at the crease on 88 not out.

The patient, diligent Prince batted for almost six hours in which he faced 214 balls and hit 19 fours.

Prince, who took guard when South Africa's third wicket fell six overs after lunch on Friday, was finally removed when leg-spinner Danish Kaneria had him stumped by wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal.

Prince advanced down the crease and swiped at the delivery as Akmal gathered the ball but missed with his first attempt at the stumps.

As Prince scrambled back towards safety, Akmal removed the bails just in time to send him packing. The rest of the session belonged to South Africa, who added 102 runs to their overnight total of 254-4.

Fast bowler Mohammad Asif claimed the first four wickets to fall in the innings and went to lunch with figures of 4-78 from 23 overs.

Sehwag & Pathan handed first memo ….

With the World Cup closing in, it would have been injudicious to whip up knee-jerk changes in the Indian team. But there was no doubt that after the neat drubbing in South Africa, some big-tickets in the Indian team needed a shake-up.

To borrow a corporate term, Virender Sehwag has been handed his first ‘memo’. The charge, as we are given to understand, is his devil-may-care attitude. Form, at least in this context, is secondary.

Team India is a ship tossed by mixed waves. Vulnerability has accompanied promise and belligerence. Unanimously though, the two who held these traits and were billed as ones who could bring home the World Cup bacon have got the axe. Sehwag is one and Irfan Pathan is the other.

Given that Rahul Dravid would want his proven (although dwindling) resources for the mega event in March, it is highly unlikely that Sehwag would find himself by the wayside for too long.

For now it looks like India will reunite the old duo – Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly – at the top. However, should Robin Uthappa and Gautam Gambhir open and get going, it would throw open an interesting equation. What then of Sehwag?

Chicken feed returns from all the investment on Pathan has been hurting India. Furthermore, his performance in his recent domestic cricket outings hasn’t been up to snuff. For now he may not be ready to ram into Chris Gayle. It remains to be seen whether twenty-three year old Joginder Sharma – whose rich haul of 38 wickets at an average of 13.89 has earned him Pathan’s slot – enjoys a long run or goes the JP Yadhav way.

The grand stage barely two months away, India has fouled up key positions – particularly that of the opening and the all-rounder. Sharma merits his recall but World Cup teams would comprise players who have gone through the inferno of international cricket. Calls into question: would eight ODIs suffice, assuming Sharma plays all of them?

You need a captain of the calibre of Imran Khan to burnish untested commodity into sizzling glory (Read: Pakistan v New Zealand 1992 World Cup). Return of Rudra Pratap Singh and Ajit Agarkar is reflection that India lacks such a charismatic influence.

Beckham Still to sign Madrid deal ...

Beckham still to sign Madrid deal

David Beckham may not be staying at Madrid beyond the summer, it was reported earlier today but David Beckham has not signed a new Real Madrid CF contract but the offer of a new one has not been withdrawn, it has emerged.

Beckham joined Madrid from boyhood club Manchester United FC on a four-year contract in 2003, but that expires in the summer. Earlier today Real Madrid CF sporting director Predrag Mijatović is reported to have told the Sky Italia television: "Beckham will leave us, we will not renew his contract with the club." However, Mijatović has said that his words were mistranslated and that he in fact stated: "Beckham's contract has not been renewed yet."

Speculation has been growing that Beckham would leave Madrid as he has not found favour under Fabio Capello, who took over as coach in the summer, but a spokesman for Madrid president Ramón Calderón said: "There is nothing official confirmed yet on Beckham's future."

Hayden back in One-Day squad ....

Test opener Matthew Hayden is back in the picture for a spot in Australia's World Cup One-Day side.

Hayden, 35, who was not part of Australia's successful Champions Trophy campaign in India in October and November, was named in a preliminary 30-man squad on Friday for the World Cup in the Caribbean in March-April.

Hayden was also named in the 13-man squad for the ODI series against New Zealand and England starting in Melbourne on January 12.

Hayden and Victorian state skipper Cameron White replace the retiring Damien Martyn and injured Queensland all-rounder Shane Watson in the 13-man squad.

"There is no doubt we will miss Damien," Australia's selectors' chairman Andrew Hilditch said in a statement. "He was a great player in both forms of the game for Australia over a long period of time and was instrumental in our ICC Champions Trophy victory."

"However, this provides Ricky (skipper Ricky Ponting) with an opportunity if he chooses to elevate Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey in the batting order and to bring back into the squad Matthew Hayden and Cameron White."

"While we have been very pleased with Shane Watson's recent performance at the top of the order, his injury provides a well-deserved opportunity for Matthew Hayden."

Defending champion Australia's 30-man squad for the World Cup in the West Indies in March will be trimmed to 15 before the February 13 deadline, Cricket Australia said.

The squad was announced just before Australia clinched a 5-0 series sweep of the Ashes Tests against England. Hayden scored the winning runs.

Tri-series squad: Ricky Ponting (C), Adam Gilchrist (WK), Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Michael Clarke, Matthew Hayden, Brad Hogg, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Andrew Symonds, Cameron White.

Preliminary 30-man World Cup squad: Ricky Ponting (C), Adam Gilchrist (WK), Andrew Symonds, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Stuart Clark, Brad Hogg, Shane Watson, Simon Katich, Brad Haddin, Phil Jaques, Mitchell Johnson, Adam Voges, Marcus North, Daniel Cullen, Shaun Tait, Nathan Hauritz, Shane Harwood, Matthew Hayden, James Hopes, Nathan Bracken, Andrew McDonald, Brad Hodge, Mark Cosgrove, Ben Hilfenhaus, Travis Birt, Shaun Marsh, Cameron White.

Vaughan Returns to the Tri-Series...

Vaughan Returns to the Tri-Series

They were thrashed in the Ashes and their recent limited-overs record is abysmal, but England hope the return of captain Michael Vaughan will boost their fortunes in the triangular One-Day series in Australia.

With the World Cup just months away, the tournament, starting on Friday, is an important chance for England, Australia and New Zealand to hone their One-Day skills and Vaughan returns to lead an English side seemingly in disarray.

Under the leadership of Andrew Flintoff, they became the first English side to lose an Ashes series 5-0 in more than 80 years, they have not won a match since they arrived on Australian soil more than two months ago, and their One-Day International record offers little comfort, with just seven wins in their past 27 games.

On Tuesday, in Vaughan's first game back at the helm, the English were again humbled by Australia, this time in a Twenty20 clash.

England open the triangular series at Melbourne on Friday, in another daunting clash with an Australian team strongly favoured to win its third World Cup in succession in the West Indies.
Speaking after the loss on Tuesday, Vaughan admitted the English were struggling, but said they hoped to gain some momentum in the triangular series.

"We've just got to make sure that over the next couple of days we think up a strategy for the One-Day game to try to build up for the World Cup," Vaughan said.

"Playing the No1 One-Day team in the world in their own backyard is going to be pretty difficult, but there's no reason why we can't try to compete and try to beat them in a few of these games.

"That's the main aim of the team now - to try to develop this thinking towards being successful in the One-Day game."

It is an unenviable position in which the 2005 Ashes hero finds himself, as he struggles with his own game as he returns from knee surgery and tries to rebuild England's shattered confidence.
He has not played a One-Day International since July 12, 2005 and his record in limited-overs cricket is modest, averaging 28.36 with a strike rate of 68.

Wasim Jaffer century boosts India

Wasim Jaffer's third test century anchored India on the first day of the third and final test against South Africa. Jaffer scored 116 to help guide India, who won the toss and chose to bat, to stumps on 254 for three as they look to clinch a series currently level at 1-1. Opener Jaffer batted for six hours, faced 244 balls and hit 15 fours before he was out in the fifth over before the close when he edged fast bowler Dale Steyn to second slip, where Jacques Kallis claimed a stinging, head-high catch. Jaffer and Dinesh Karthik shared a first-wicket stand of 153, India's first century opening partnership in South Africa.

Karthik, who scored 63, offered with the total on 95 when medium pacer Shaun Pollock found the edge only for Graeme Smith at first slip to drop the catch. The Indian openers were able to settle at their own pace on the flattest pitch of the series, against a South African attack that failed to make them play often enough. Just eight runs were scored off the first five overs before Jaffer cut fast bowler Makhaya Ntini through third man for four and then drove Ntini's next ball off the back foot through the off-side for another boundary.

Jaffer stroked India past 50 when he hit Pollock through mid-wicket for four in the seventh over before lunch. India then reached three figures without loss midway through the second session when Karthik took a leg-bye off Pollock. Debutant left-arm spinner Paul Harris took his maiden test wicket with the first ball after tea, which Karthik prodded on to his pad and to Hashim Amla at silly point. India were 202 for two when captain Rahul Dravid pushed forward defensively at a ball from Pollock and edged to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher for 29.

Sachin Tendulkar was 28 not out at the close with Vangipurappu Laxman on four. South Africa's Kallis and Steyn returned to action from back and thigh injuries respectively which kept them out of the second test in Durban. All rounder Andrew Hall and fast bowlers Morne Morkel and Andre Nel, who has a foot injury, missed out. Wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni was forced out of India's team with a hand injury and replaced by Karthik, who also displaced the out-of-form Virender Sehwag at the top of the order. Sehwag has been listed to bat at No 6.

Fast bowler Munaf Patel, who has been sidelined since injuring an ankle in the second one-day international in Durban in November, won back his place in the team at the expense of Vikram Singh.

Team India ride high on Chappels experimentation again.....

Team India ride high on Chappels experimentation , sehwag been demoted to number six. Indian skipper Rahul Dravid won the toss and decided to bat in the third and final Test of the series against South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town on Tuesday.

Team India failed to bite the bullet on out-of-form Virender Sehwag who despite his awful form in the Tests managed to save his place in the final XI but he was brought down the order.

While there were speculations that Dravid would come out to open but in a surprise move Wasim Jaffer came out with Dinesh Karthik to take guard.

A new opening pair would have certainly given the jitters to the Indian fans but the duo were not to be intimidated. The duo showed immense composure en route to a crucial opening stand, something that has remained elusive to the Indian batting on the tour.

Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini tried their best to break the opening stand but failed, as did the other Proteas bowlers. On the other hand both Jaffer and Karthik did not give much for the scorers to do as they crawled to 61 when the lunch break was taken.

Dinesh Karthik will have a tiresome role to play, as he has opened the batting and will be keeping for the Indians too. Yet, the batsman played out of his skin to fend off the Proteas challenge.

After lunch, Jaffer reached his half-century with a neat straight drive struck off Shaun Pollock, his effort taking him a watchful 110 balls.

Dinesh Karthik too made his way watchfully to his second 50 in Test cricket, making the most of the opportunity given to him. The two eased the pressure from the rest of the side, taking them through to 153 for no loss at tea.

Straight out of tea, Team India let their guard down and Dinesh Karthik made his way back into the pavilion when Paul Harris scalped his first ever Test wicket. Karthik made a resolute 63 as India went one down on the same score at 153.

Wasim Jaffer though, was in no mood to throw away his start, stroking his way to a century, his second in Test matches, following a double century in the West Indies earlier this year.

Play Gambhir, Harbhajan: Wadekar ...

Former India skipper and one of the most successful managers of the Indian team, Ajit Wadekar on Monday said that inclusion of opening batsman Gautam Gambhir and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh in the third and final Test match against South Africa will make a huge difference to India’s fortunes in the on-going Test series.

"If I were the captain of the Indian team in South Africa, I would persist with Virender Sehwag and replace Wasim Jaffer with Gautam Gambhir. Agreed Sehwag is going through a worst phase in his career, but if he strikes form he will be a real match-winner and the Indians need to be positive so that they can win the series at Cape Town," Wadekar told CricketNext.com.

"I would replace Jaffer with Gambhir, simply because the former seems to be finding it difficult to adjust to the bounce and pace of the South African wickets and Gambhir seems to be in good nick. Jaffer has got enough chances and it will only be fair if Gautam too gets his share of chances," Wadekar, who guided India to its first overseas Test series wins in the West Indies and England in 1971, added.

"With India forced to go all out for a win, I would play Harbhajan Singh as the second spinner in place of VRV Singh as the wicket at Cape Town will be spongy and slow and two spinners will come handy as the South Africans are not comfortable against top quality spin," the southpaw said.

Calling all-rounder Irfan Pathan’s ouster mid-way through the tour as ‘shocking and uncalled for’, Wadekar said, "Pathan would have benefited more if he had stayed back and taken guidance from bowlers like Wasim Akram of Pakistan, who is in South Africa as a TV commentator, and former South African fast bowler Allan Donald but now they (selectors) have sent him back needlessly, let’s hope he gets some valuable practice playing in domestic cricket before the World Cup."

"Personally speaking Pathan is a confused lad at the moment, he is not sure whether he should concentrate more on his bowling or batting."