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Shane Warne phone company have been named among the nation`s

2008-06-22T13:51:00.000+05:30

June 19,2008

Cricket great Shane Warne and the US-born chief of Australia`s biggest phone company have been named among the nation`s least-trusted people, just ahead of ex-Guantanamo Bay inmate David Hicks.

Medical researchers and children`s entertainment group The Wiggles topped the trust list, with Bali bombing burns treatment pioneer Fiona Wood taking top slot for the fourth year running, publisher Readers Digest said.

"The only person who`d knock her off the top is Mother Teresa, and she`s dead," said list demographer Bernard Salt.

Warne, who retired from test cricket last year with a record 708 wickets, came 95th in the list of 100 names, alongside Telstra CEO Sol Trujillo, who has had a rocky tenure at the head of the telecommunications giant.

Throughout his cricketing career Warne attracted as much controversy off the field as he did on it, with suspension for passing tips to an Indian bookmaker and the breakup of his marriage over extramarital affairs and phone text scandals.

Acknowledged as one of the finest leg spin bowlers the world has seen, Warne also served a ban for testing positive to a prohibited diuretic and in 1999 was charged with bringing the game into disrepute after criticising Sri Lanka`s captain.

Joining Warne in the trust basement was David Hicks, a former kangaroo skinner and Afghanistan militant recruit released from Guantanamo Bay and later an Australian prison last year.

Centre-left Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd came 62nd, the highest position for a politician.

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The most trusted included national television stars, U.S.-based singer and actor Olivia Newton-John and the Australian-born Princess Mary of Denmark, who met her Danish Prince husband in a Sydney pub

President Srinivasan refutes President Muthiah`s charges

2008-06-22T13:50:00.000+05:30

June 19,2008
Tamil Nadu Cricket Association president N Srinivasan refuted the charges of ‘inducements and bribery` levelled by former President AC Muthiah.

While announcing his decision to fight the June 29 elections of TNCA, Muthiah had said that he would be contesting for Presidentship of the body after a gap of six years. “I was amazed at the monetary inducements offered by some person and one of his associates, Balaji, was beaten up by members of the rival group”, Muthiah had said.

Addressing a press conference here this evening, Srinivasan alleged that `on the contrary, it is Muthiah and his team offering goodies and even jobs in their companies to lure the Club members to vote for them`.

He said it was rather unfortunate that Muthiah was `stooping to such low levels`, alleging that his (Srinivasan`s) team members were making veiled threats of physical harm.

Saying that in the past TNCA elections had been `hotter` particuarly when Muhtiah first contested for Presidentship against late Ashok Kumbhat, Srinivasan said `his charges are baseless`.

On the functioning of TNCA, Srinivasan said that Club secretaries of the association were aware of the progress being made under his six years tenure in respect of development of cricket, improvement of comforts at the Stadium and conduct of tournaments and holding of coaching camps.

“We have started a cricket academy and 47 boys from the districts participated in a special coaching camp at the academy” he said. Districts contribute 30 votes in the total of 180 voters (Clubs) and 11 sitting office bearers.

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BCCI approves is must to recognise ICL by ICC

2008-06-22T13:49:00.000+05:30

June 19, 2008
The International Cricket Council today made it clear that it would not recognise the Indian Cricket League until the Twenty20 series gets an approval from the BCCI.

Asked whether the ICC was considering ICL`s request for recognition, the governing body`s acting chief executive Dave Richardson said since the league was a domestic event it had to be first cleared by the Indian board.

"We have got a request from the ICL but we can`t move ahead as first the Indian board has to approve the ICL which remains a domestic event," he said at a news conference in Lahore.

"As far as domestic events are concerned we leave it up to the home boards to make policy decisions," he added.

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Richardson said the ICC had left it to the respective boards to outline a policy on the ICL and players who have signed up for it.

The Pakistan Cricket Board, which has banned 16 of its players for appearing in the ICL, has insisted that it would not review the ban unless the ICC changes its stance on the league.

Amelie Mauresmo a big doubt for Wimbeldon

2008-06-22T13:47:00.002+05:30

June 19,2008
France`s Amelie Mauresmo is a big doubt for next week`s Wimbledon after tearing a thigh muscle at the WTA Eastbourne Championships on Wednesday.

The former world number one was 14 minutes into her second round game with Australian Samantha Stosur when the injury occurred, forcing her to leave the court and retire from the match.

Mauresmo, who won Wimbledon in 2006, will wait 48 hours to see if the pain subsides, but the prognosis is not optimistic, her spokeswoman said.

The injury comes at a bad time for Mauresmo, who is recovering from a dismal clay court season after winning just one match at Roland Garros before losing to a Spanish qualifier.

The former world number one, now ranked 30th, has 24 career titles, including the Australian Open.

Gony replaces Sreesanth for tri-series

2008-06-22T13:47:00.001+05:30

June 19,2008
Manpreet Gony has made it a habit of benefiting from someone's absence. The strapping fast bowler earned his maiden international call for the recent Bangladesh tri-series after Sreesanth pulled out because of a side strain. Gony has retained his place in the Asia Cup squad as the latter hasn't recovered from the injury.

The occurrence is not new for Gony. He made it to the Ranji Trophy only after several Punjab players opted for the Indian Cricket League.

He profited particularly from the departure of Luv Ablish, the right-handed medium-pacer, a fact to which he admits.

Then came the Indian Premier League call. He was overlooked by the Mohali franchisee and wasn't the first choice even for the Chennai team.

He got a call only after Sudeep Tyagi, the right arm quick from Uttar Pradesh, got injured. Chennai were desperately looking for a replacement when Bhupinder Singh (Sr), the national selector, asked V.B. Chandrasekhar, Chennai's chief selector, to watch Gony. Soon, he was playing for Chennai.

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Gony has largely been the second choice so far, but to his credit, he hasn't disappointed with his performance so far. He put up a decent display in the Ranji Trophy, impressed in the Deodhar Trophy and was fantastic in the IPL.

One hopes it won't be any different in the national squad for him.

Rajasthan Royals lifted the trophy-Mallya Happy

2008-06-22T13:46:00.000+05:30

June 18,2008
His own team Bangalore Royal Challengers might have come a cropper at the Indian Premier League, but liquor baron Vijay Mallya is content with the fact that the trophy went to Rajasthan Royals, a side sponsored by his company.

"Although the Royal Challengers failed to make much headway, the Rajasthan Royals sponsored by my company lifted the trophy," said Mallya, who had openly expressed his unhappiness with the way the Rahul Dravid-led Royal Challengers performed in the Twenty20 cricket extravaganza.

The flamboyant businessman, who also owns a Formula One team besides an airline, felt the IPL has added a new dimension to cricket. "IPL has defined cricket. IPL was the biggest blockbuster and phenomenal market success for TV," he said.

Mallya said the tournament will help India build a "world class squad" by throwing up talented youngsters. Mallya also did not see anything wrong in cricketers making some quick money through the slam-bang format.

"When football players could make money why not cricketers?" he asked.

Mallya hoped that the England and Wales Cricket Board would also allow its players to participate in the next edition of the event.

Serena Williams said she was sad at Wimbledon

2008-06-22T13:45:00.000+05:30

June 20,2008:
Former world number one Serena Williams said she was sad that her old adversary Justine Henin will be missing from Wimbledon this year.

The American was knocked out by Henin at the quarter-final stage last year having beaten the Belgian on her way to winning the title in 2003.

Their 13 career meetings were often prickly affairs, especially a bad-tempered French Open semi-final won by Henin in 2003. Williams also turned out to be a sore loser when she was beaten by Henin in the U.S. Open quarter-finals last year.

But following Henin`s sudden retirement from the sport last month, Williams said she would miss their rivalry.

"It`s sad that she`s not going to be at Wimbledon this year," Williams, who features in a new USD 15-million dollar marketing campaign unveiled by the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour in London this week, told reporters.

"She was great competition and the tournament will miss her. But then again it opens up the draw a bit for someone else to do a little better."

Williams won consecutive titles in Bangalore, Miami and Charleston earlier this year but struggled during the European claycourt season, losing in the third round at Roland Garros to Slovenia`s Katarina Srebotnik.

Her early exit in Paris at least allowed her some time off and to prepare thoroughly for Wimbledon.

"It was nice to have a bit of time off and I`ve had a lot of time on the grass," Williams, who had back trouble in Rome this year, said. "I`m feeling great and very positive.

"It`s been a while since I won here but I still think, along with my sister (Venus), I`m the one to beat on grass. Hopefully I can hang in with her."

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Williams is seeded sixth at Wimbledon, one place higher than Venus who will be defending her title.

The Williams sisters were among 30 players featured in the WTA Tour`s "Looking for a Hero" campaign which will be rolled out across 75 countries over the next 18 months.

Justine Henin proved a perfect fit for Ana Ivanovic in Paris

2008-06-22T13:43:00.000+05:30

June 20,2008:
The crown relinquished by the retired Justine Henin proved a perfect fit for Ana Ivanovic in Paris and now the new world number one plans to make her succession complete with victory at Wimbledon.

The Serb emerged imperiously from the struggle for the top ranking at the French Open earlier this month and showed she was the natural heir to Henin, the livewire Belgian who stunned tennis by announcing her retirement at the age of 25 last month.

The 20-year-old from Belgrade left Roland Garros with her first grand slam title, the world`s top ranking and knowledge she has the power, timing and movement to dominate the game.

"You just have to make sure you keep doing the right things on the court and play your matches and the rankings, they take care of themselves," Ivanovic said after beating Russia`s Dinara Safina in the Roland Garros final.

"I think I have a good chance (of winning Wimbledon)," said Ivanovic, who lost to eventual champion Venus Williams in the semi-finals last year. "I`ve been working really hard and this hard work gives results."

There are fewer loose cannons in the women`s game to shock Ivanovic, who missed the warm-up event at Eastbourne this week to rest an abductor muscle strain, in the early rounds. No Ivo Karlovic or Mario Ancic-like threats lurk in the women`s draw and she should progress to the quarter-finals with ease.

Grass Dangers

There she could meet one of the Williams sisters, so dangerous on grass even if they looked a shadow of their former selves in Paris.

Venus, who has just turned 28 and is seeded seventh, will be playing her 12th Wimbledon, has a 51-7 win-loss record and has won the major four times.

Both she and sixth-seeded sister Serena, 26 and twice a champion here, have the experience, power and guile on grass to break the eastern European cartel.

Should she overcome that hurdle Ivanovic is seeded to face Russians Svetlana Kuznetsova or Maria Sharapova before a showdown with second-ranked Serbian rival Jelena Jankovic.

Questions have to be asked about Jankovic`s temperament after her grand slam semi-final record slumped to 0-4 with the defeat by Ivanovic in Paris. Kuznetsova, never past the last eight in London, generally gets found out by the more fleet of foot on the slick surface.

Sharapova, winner in 2004, looked anything but a world number one in Paris, giving away almost 11 games in double faults and complaining of a shoulder injury, until Safina finally put her out of her misery in round four.

But she has experience of lifting the Rosewater Dish and the hurt of loss to the bludgeoning Safina and with it her top ranking, will undoubtedly spur her on.

"My chances are just as good as everybody`s, it`s all about who takes their chances," said Sharapova, who has chosen to stay away from the warm-up events before her Wimbledon tilt.

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France`s Amelie Mauresmo is a shadow of the player who lifted the title in 2006 and is labouring with a leg injury.

Ivanovic said in Paris winning a grand slam was something she had dreamt about "since I was a little kid."

"It`s my incentive to keep working hard and win more of these trophies."

Few would bet against her work failing to pay off on Centre Court on July 5.

Striker Humberto Suazo scored twice

2008-06-22T13:41:00.000+05:30

June 20,2008:
Striker Humberto Suazo scored twice, including a stoppage-time winner, to give Chile a 3-2 away win over Venezuela in a World Cup qualifier on Thursday.

The goals all came in the final 35 minutes of a pulsating match as Chile picked up their second away win in four days, vindicating coach Marcelo Bielsa`s controversial decision to field a young team and leave out several top players.

Giancarlo Maldonado put Venezuela ahead in the 59th minute, Chile replied with a Suazo penalty and a Gonzalo Jara goal and Juan Arango equalised for the hosts with 10 minutes left before Suazo struck again.

Chile, beaten 6-1 by Brazil in a Copa America match at the same stadium last year, moved level with Colombia on 10 points from six games in the 10-team group, one behind Argentina and three adrift of leaders Paraguay.

Brazil, beaten by Paraguay on Sunday and held at home by Argentina on Wednesday, are a modest fifth with nine points, followed by Uruguay on eight, Venezuela on seven and Ecuador on five.

The top four teams qualify directly for South Africa in 2010 and the fifth plays off against the fourth team from the CONCACAF region.

On a slippery pitch and in a passionate atmosphere, Venezuela enjoyed the early pressure but Chile, not afraid to attack away from home, gradually took control and created several openings before the break.

They continued to push forward after halftime and Jean Beausejour had a header cleared off the line by Leonel Vielma after a defensive mix-up.

Against the run of play, Venezuela went ahead when Maldonado`s low 30-metre free kick found its way through the Chile wall.

Suazo levelled in the 65th minute, firing a penalty into the roof of the net after Miguel Mea Vitali tripped Alexis Sanchez, and Jara swept in a free kick from Mark Gonzalez eight minutes later.

Arango equalised in the 80th minute, finding a gap between the near post and Claudio Bravo from Maldonado`s pass and Venezuela had two good efforts saved by the Chile goalkeeper as they threatened to snatch a winner.

Instead, Chile stole the points when Suazo drilled a low shot past Renny Vega from the edge of the penalty area in the second minute of stoppage-time.

Australia`s cricketers were still nervous about Pakistan

2008-06-22T13:39:00.000+05:30

June20,2008:
Australia`s cricketers were still apprehensive about competing in Pakistan for the Champions Trophy in September, captain Ricky Pointing said.

Australia postponed their tour of Pakistan earlier this year after a spate of suicide bombings following the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto in December.

Pakistan is scheduled to host the 15-match Champions Trophy, which is considered the second most important one-day tournament behind the World Cup. Australia won the last tournament in India in 2006.

"We don`t know if we`re going, and if we do go, we don`t know if individuals are going to pull out," Ponting, who is still on tour in the West Indies, was quoted as saying in a leading daily.

"But what we know right now is, yes, there is some apprehension amongst some of the players and that was stated last summer. I don`t think that would have changed until now.”

"It might change in the coming weeks. If we get some good news from the security reports over there, then the individual`s mindset might change a little bit."
Ponting added the team would be guided by advice from Cricket Australia`s own security staff, the Australian Cricketers` Association and the Australian government.

"We understand there has been a bit of trouble over there in the last few weeks, but we`re always guided by the experts," Ponting said.

"To Cricket Australia and the players` association`s credit, I think they`ve handled the last couple of tours there very well. Obviously, the government`s involvement last time probably helped us all out."

He also said his team were not alone in expressing apprehension in touring Pakistan, with other teams also concerned about safety during the 18-day tournament, which is being staged in just three cities - Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi.

"Let`s not forget that we probably won`t be the only ones in that situation," he added.

"I`m sure some of the England players will have some concerns, I`m sure a lot of the New Zealand players who have been confronted with this stuff before, in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, will have some pretty serous concerns.”

"It just won`t be Australian players. There will be a few other teams who will be thinking long and hard if the tour does go ahead there."

BCCI president Sharad Pawar leaves the ball in ECB court on issue of ICL players

2008-06-22T13:38:00.001+05:30

June 20,2008:
BCCI president Sharad Pawar, in a stern warning, said English counties -- expected to participate in the Champions League -- were free to include players connected with ICL in their teams but BCCI would have the last laugh when it comes to a final decision.

The strong statement is going to give a testing time to the England and Wales Cricket Board, which has allowed ICL players to play in its domestic circuit.

Around 25 such cricketers are featuring in 15 of its 18 counties, this season.

"This is not within the BCCI`s jurisdiction. They can do what they want. If any country takes any decision on this, they have every right to do so. They have the freedom to take a decision on the teams they choose to represent them (in the Champions League).

"But then, we also have the freedom to take our decision on the issue later," Pawar told a website.

IPL chairman Lalit Modi has already said that teams with players associated with the ICL would not be invited for the tournament "under any circumstance".
The BCCI backed USD 5 million Champions League would pit two top Twenty20 domestic teams from India, England, Australia and South Africa against each other, later this year.

On being asked if an English county team with ICL players qualifies for the Champions League, what would the BCCI do, Pawar referred to the ICC`s stand on the ICL and said that all countries "have been informed about it".

The ICC has decided to go by the BCCI`s policy towards ICL, which was launched last year before the BCCI`s cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL).

However, Pawar said BCCI would consider young ICL players, "if anybody approaches them."

Mohammed Asif landed in Lahore after a long hiatus in Dubai

2008-06-22T13:36:00.000+05:30

June 20,,2008:

Pakistan speedster Mohammed Asif landed in Lahore after a long hiatus in Dubai after he was held at the Dubai airport 20 days ago on charges of a drug possession. Asif was kept in Dubai since June 1 for alleged possession of contraband drug ‘hashish’.

Asif arrived in Karachi from Dubai and without coming out of the terminal caught a connecting flight to Lahore where the Pakistan Cricket Board headquarters are located.

Asif said that all his tests were cleared and that the authorities in Dubai co-operated a lot. He also thanked the PCB saying that the Board helped him a lot. The pacer also expressed his gratitude to all his fans who supported him in the incident. He said, "If I would not have cleared the tests, ICC would have banned me."

PCB welcomed Asif`s release but maintained that it would go ahead with its internal inquiry into the whole "embarrassing" episode.

"We appreciate the professional manner in which this whole issue was dealt with by the Dubai police, prosecution department and the UAE authorities," the statement said.

Dr Zafar Ali, media chancellor of Pakistan Embassy in UAE, said, "The public prosecutor has decided against pressing any charges against Asif as such and it has been decided to deport him immediately."

The Dubai Public Prosecution, meanwhile, said that the case against Asif has been dropped due to its insignificance.

Struggling Marco Melandri willing to step aside

2008-06-22T13:35:00.000+05:30

Struggling MotoGP rider Marco Melandri said he is incompatible with his Ducati and is willing to step aside if the Italian team want to replace him.

"My style is the opposite of what this bike requires. I feel like I`m on the wet even when it`s dry," Melandri said in an interview in a sports magazine.

"I don`t know (if my future is with Ducati). My contract runs for two years and relations are good.”

"I think we have to find the most logical road for both of us. If things go badly for too long, it`s not in their interests or in mine."

Melandri has picked up just 29 points since joining Australian world champion Casey Stoner at Ducati at the start of the season, leaving the 25-year-old Italian a lowly 13th in the standings.

Ducati asked retired former rider Sete Gibernau to do tests for them this week, sparking media speculation they may be lining up the Spaniard to replace Melandri.

"If someone can do better than me, I`m ready to accept it," said Melandri, who won the 250cc title in 2002 and was the MotoGP runner-up in 2005 on a Honda.

Kevin Pietersen said he believed 50-over one-day international cricket

2008-06-22T13:27:00.000+05:30

June20,2008:
Kevin Pietersen said last week that he believed 50-over one-day international cricket would be a "thing of the past" in a couple of years. If we get any more matches like last night's at Edgbaston it may not take that long.

The events in Birmingham were yet another example of cricket not helping itself - and all this at a time when there is so much debate about trying to make the game more popular.

I feel really sorry for the 16,000 spectators at Edgbaston on Wednesday night who waited patiently through some horrid weather until 3.00pm to finally see some action in the second NatWest ODI.

What reward did they get for their money and understanding? A farcical and deeply unsatisfactory ending.

In case you were not following the game, originally it was going to be 29 overs per side and was then reduced to 23 overs because of more poor weather. In order to constitute a match both sides have to receive at least 20 overs each and so it was to widespread disbelief that the umpires took the players off after 19 overs.

I admit that conditions just before 7.30pm last night were not at all good - it was raining and very gloomy. But were conditions really any worse at the end of the 19th over than they had been in the preceeding 10 minutes?

I accept that the umpires have to be fair to both sides and have to take safety into account, but surely we could have bowled six more balls. We have to be fair also to the crowd who pay to watch - don't we?

To be honest, I do not necessarily blame the umpires - as Steve Davis told us afterwards, they were only following the playing conditions laid down before the series began - but surely there is room for some common sense.

I found it bizarre that when the game began at 3.00pm we were playing 29 overs per side. With weather conditions poor and a distinctly mixed forecast, why not just agree to play 20 overs per side?

Dare I say it's a format the crowd and players could understand much better. Both sides would have had a much better idea of what a good score was and how to pace their innings. But more importantly we all knew that we were unlikely to get 29 overs in and, surprise, surprise, more bad weather meant the game was reduced to 24 overs and then to 23.

To say it was confusing to all is an understatement. At times the scoreboard was showing the wrong target being chased and how casual cricket followers were supposed to follow what was going on is a mystery to me.

I spend quite a lot of time trying to explain to non-cricket fans why I love the game, but I admit today I have found it very difficult to defend what went on on Wednesday night.

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The great irony was that when we interviewed Davis, England skipper Paul Collingwood and New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori 15 minutes after the players had been hauled off the field, the sun had come out and the rain had stopped.

Sadly by then the disgruntled crowd had already left - how many of them will come to watch live cricket again?

If you'd like to hear those interviews by the way, then why not listen to the TMS Podcast with Jonathan Agnew and Graham Gooch.

We hope for much better in the third one-dayer at Bristol on Saturday - although as I write, the forecast is mixed again. I hope a few lessons have been learnt from Wednesday's farce.