‘Harbhajan batted brilliantly'

HYDERABAD: “We need to get more runs to put more pressure. There is plenty of time left in this Test and it is too early to think about the declaration,” Rahul Dravid said at end of the third day's play in the second Test between India and New Zealand here on Sunday.

“We are slightly ahead but need to really increase the lead as much as possible. Hopefully, Bhajji (Harbhajan) will hit a century again and mind you Sree is really batting well,” he said.

“Anything can happen on the last two days of a Test and especially here. We have to really bowl well and take our catches to put the Kiwis under pressure in the second innings,” Dravid said.

“Definitely batting in the last innings should be a very difficult proposition even though the pitch is still really a good one now,” he added.

“This is a beautiful ground with a lovely outfield. You can see how exceptional the New Zealand fielding had been today,” he said.

Hyderabad wicket not helping bowlers: Laxman

VVS Laxman feels the presence of a famed batting line-up and the pitch at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium should work to India's advantage even if New Zealand manage to set the hosts a competitive fourth-innings target on the fifth and final day of the second Test here.

"The target is to keep the lead under 225. Even if the required rate is five, there should not be a problem as we have got a very strong batting line-up and the nature of the wicket will help us," Laxman said after New Zealand finished the day at 237 for four to acquire a lead of 115 runs.

Asked about the team's plans for on Tuesday, Laxman said, "We will look to get two early wickets and then get into the tail."

On the nature of the wicket, he said, "The wicket is not doing enough for bowlers. There is bounce but no turn and that's why I think our bowlers have done a very good job today."

Harbhajan, McCullum hit tons in second Test

HYDERABAD: New Zealand opener Brendon McCullum struck a superb 124 not out to defy India on the fourth day of the second Test on Monday.

McCullum, 29, hit 11 fours and three sixes in his 177-ball knock as the visitors reached 237/4 at close in reply to India's first-innings 472, built around a record century by tailender Harbhajan Singh.

New Zealand, who made 350 in their first essay, lead by 115 runs with six wickets in hand.

Kane Williamson (12) was the other not out batsman at the crease when stumps were called for the day.

McCullum dominated India's bowlers, hitting paceman Shanthakumaran Sreesanth for a six over long-off and a four off the next ball before racing to his sixth Test century with another boundary. 

Asian Games: Men's snooker team claim silver, bronze for tennis team

GUANGZHOU: The Indian men's snooker team lost 1-3 to China and had to be content with a silver at the Asian Games on Monday, while the men's hockey team began their campaign on an upbeat note with a 7-0 demolition of Hong Kong.

The cueist trio of Yasin Merchant, Aditya Kumar, Brijesh Damani went down to Junhui Ding, Liang Wenbo and Tian Pengfei 16-70, 51-46, 27-68, 0-96.

Whereas, India had to settle for a bronze in the men's tennis event after losing 1-2 to top seeds Chinese Taipei in the semifinals.

India's Somdev Devvarman drew the tie with a 6-2, 7-6(4) victory over Ti Chen after Sanam Singh went down fighting 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-7 (5) to Tsung Hua Yang in the first rubber.

Somdev and Sanam then combined for the deciding doubles but Yang and Chu-Huan Yi scraped through 4-6, 6-7(1).

There's lot more to talk than my 50th Test ton: Tendulkar

HYDERABAD: The entire world is waiting with bated breath in anticipation of his coveted 50th Test ton but Sachin Tendulkar feels that in his illustrious career spanning over 21 years, there is lot more to talk about the game than a particular milestone.

"There is much more to Test cricket than my 50th Test ton. This is not the only thing. I always focus on playing well for my country and presently I am focusing on winning the series against the New Zealand," Sachin said on the penultimate day of the second Test against New Zealand.

"I don't open the newspapers (to see what's written about me). I don't read them and you can see them hanging at the stand outside my hotel room. I focus on my game only. Last 21 years have been really special for me and I thoroughly enjoyed my joyful journey," said Tendulkar, who managed to score 13 runs in the first innings. 

India spank Hong Kong 7-0 in Asian Games men's hockey

GUANGZHOU: Ace drag-flicker Sandeep Singh scored a double as Indian men's hockey team started their Asian Games campaign on a rousing note, blanking a lowly Hong Kong 7-0 in their first Group B match on Monday.

Coach Jose Brasa's boys completely dominated their rivals in the entire 70 minutes and pumped in four and three goals respectively in both the halves at the Aoti Hockey Field to start their proceedings in the quadrennial mega-event in style.

Against Hong Kong, India utilised three out of the five penalty corners they earned in the match with Sandeep (4th and 18th minutes) converting two and Tushar Khandker (37th) scoring from a variation.

Bharat Chikara (2nd), Sarvanjit Singh (22nd), Arjun Halappa (38th) and Shivendra Singh (48th) completed the rout for India through field strikes.

India will now face minnows Bangladesh in their group match on Wednesday
.

Rajasthan Royals, BCCI to solve dispute through arbitration

MUMBAI: Rajasthan Royals and BCCI on Monday agreed to take the dispute over the IPL franchisee's contract termination to an arbitrator. 

Rajasthan Royals moved the Bombay High Court last month after the BCCI terminated the contract with them for the IPL. 

However, at Monday's hearing Rajasthan Royals' lawyer Janak Dwarkadas told the court that both the parties have decided to solve the dispute through arbitration as per their contract terms. He also said that justice B N Srikrishna would be the sole arbitrator. 

Justice S J Vazifdar adjourned hearing till November 18. Another IPL franchisee Kings XI Punjab has also challenged termination of regulation of its contract with BCCI. 

Kings XI's lawyers told the court today that his client too is seeking resolution of dispute through arbitration and the franchisee would be willing to accept arbitration before Justice Srikrishna. 

The court then posted the matter of Kings XI for hearing on November 18.

Cameron to push England 2018 World Cup bid

Seoul: Prime Minister David Cameron plans to attend the FIFA vote next month when world soccer’s governing body decides the fate of England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup. 

Cameron is intensifying his efforts to back the bid, talking it up during meetings with world leaders at the G20 summit he is attending in South Korea. 

England faces strong competition from Russia and joint bids from Spain/Portugal and Belgium/the Netherlands. 

“The prime minister wants to offer the strongest possible support for what he thinks is an excellent bid,” his spokesman told reporters. 

FIFA’s executive committee will select the hosts of both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups at a two-day meeting in Zurich, finishing on December 2. 

Cameron held a 30-minute meeting with Chung Mong-joon, FIFA vice-president and president of Korea’s FA, at the British ambassador’s residence on Thursday. 

Cameron joked that he was spending more time on the World Cup than on core G20 issues at the summit. 

The prime minister is arguing that England already has world-class stadiums in place, reducing the costs involved at a time of sharp public spending cuts. 

England last hosted the World Cup in 1966, winning the tournament for the only time, and staging the event again would be a morale boost for English fans. 

Cameron told Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that he looked forward to a “good, clean fight” when the issue of their rival bids came up at a bilateral meeting on Thursday. 

Two FIFA executive committee members, who deny wrongdoing, have been suspended while FIFA investigates allegations in the Sunday Times newspaper that they offered to sell their votes. 

There is speculation FIFA is unhappy with the level of scrutiny it has faced in the British press and that England’s bid could suffer as a result of the newspaper reports. 

Britain has already been chosen to host the 2012 Olympics, their winning bid boosted by strong backing from then Prime Minister Tony Blair during the campaign.

McIntosh hits ton as Kiwis take control on Day-1

Hyderabad: Tim McIntosh, who got out for duck in both innings of the first Test, justified his selection in New Zealand batting XI with a gritty hundred to give New Zealand a steady ground to post big first innings total in hot and humid conditions here on the first day of the second Test match on Friday.

Zaheer Khan tried to bring India back in the last session of the day, picking up Taylor and centurion McIntosh, but Jesse Ryder and Gareth Hopkins held on their nerves to make it a complete New Zealand day.

Winning the toss and choosing to bat first at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, New Zealand batsmen adopted slow and cautious approach to post 258 runs for the loss of 4 wickets on day one and made Indian bowlers work hard to take wickets for all three sessions.

McIntosh’s knock is the first hundred by a New Zealand opener on foreign soil in the last six years. He got off the mark with a boundary through cover and produced 10 delectable shots along the ground and a lofted six over the region between long-on and deep midwicket. 

During his stay at the wicket, the 30-year-old was involved in two important partnerships. Recalled in the Test squad for BJ Watling, Martin Guptill made an attacking 85 to share an excellent 147-run partnership with McIntosh and took New Zealand past 150 runs but was trapped leg-before of the bowling of Pragyan Ojha.

Before getting out, Guptill scored nine boundaries and a towering six of the bowling of Harbhajan Singh to counter attack Indian bowlers who looked intimidating in the first session on a green top.

After Guptill’s dismissal, Ross Taylor came to the crease and stitched 55-run partnership for third wicket but just when Taylor seemed threatening with quick boundaries, Zaheer Khan induced an edge and sent him back to the pavilion.

Earlier, New Zealand made the most of their good fortune- surviving a testing spell of fine swing bowling by Sreesanth- at the first session of the opening day of second Test match here as they went for lunch at 75 runs for the loss of only one wicket. 

New Zealand suffered an early blow when opener Brendon McCullum (4) was caught-behind of a beautiful out-swinger by Sreesanth.

The second-wicket partnership between Tim McIntosh and Martin Guptill, standing unbeaten at 74, survived many close chances including Guptill’s dismissal on a no-ball, a dropped catch by MS Dhoni of Harbhajan Singh, and several edges falling short of gully and point.

India has not made any changes to their playing XI and has fielded the same squad for the match, while New Zealand has made three changes in their team.

Paceman Brent Arnel replaced Hamish Bennett, Tim Southee came in for spinner Jeetan Patel while Martin Guptill replaced BJ Watling.

New Zealand (Playing XI): Brendon McCullum, Tim McIntosh, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder, Kane Williamson, Daniel Vettori(c), Gareth Hopkins(w), Brent Arnel, Chris Martin, Tim Southee.

India (Playing XI): Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni(w/c), Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Pragyan Ojha, S Sreesanth.

Unprecedented security for Asian Games

Guangzhou, Nov 12 : Unprecedented security cover has been put in place and organisers announced that use of vuvuzela in and around stadia has been banned as the Asian Games officially open with an expensive and flashy opening ceremony.

China is leaving no stone unturned to showcase its sporting hegemony as it poured in billions of dollars for this extravaganza to herald the most ambitious Asiad so far with more than 14,000 athletes and officials from 45 countries and territories taking part.

''Everything is in place. After six years of hard work, I am pleased to announce that the preparatory work of the 16th Asian Games has been completed,'' announced Guangzhou vice-mayor Xu Ruisheng.

Security is a main concern, with more than 100,000 police officers on duty to keep the Games safe, and they are being backed by thousands of security guards and volunteers.

''As the Guangzhou Asian Games will have the most ever athletes, officials and reporters in the history of the Asian Games, the security work has been a great challenge.

''The security panel has adopted effective and necessary measures to ensure a safe Games. We have done our best to provide a safe and favorable environment for athletes, coaches, officials and audiences,'' a statement from the Games security commission said.

''We can not take any chances,We want the Games to be grand success and we want people of the World to remember Guangzhou for all the good reasons,'' Xu Ruisheng said. ''The city will emerge as a main sporting centre after this event.'' The organisers also announced that people will not be allowed to carry vuvuzela in or around stadia.

''We have nothing against the instrument (which hit the headlines during the Soccer World Cup) but keeping in mind the objections raised by the athletes and sports officials who say it is a source of distraction, it has decided to declare it as a prohibited item,'' Xu Ruisheng said.

Government officials are confident that the Games will help transform the city into one of Asia's top destinations at par with Beijing and Shanghai. For the Games, many big infrastructure projects - a new railway station, a trade centre, subway lines, housing projects, highways and bridges have been constructed well ahead of schedule along with 70 sporting facilities which have either been built or renovated.

As the Chinese are known to spring surprises on the World when they host such extravaganzas - this time the the opening ceremony will be held outside the main stadium and will be held in an island on the Pearl River.

Organisers also asserted that the opening ceremony will have the largest lighting show ever seen at a major sports event, based around a theme prominently featuring the local Lingnan culture.

''All chapters of the performances will be linked together under the theme of water, which is a traditional element of Lingnan culture,'' diclosed ceremony's deputy director He Jiqing.

All the athletes will arrive by a convoy of pleasure boats, but this time the two Korean teams (North and south) who marched together at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, 2004 Athens Olympics and 2006 Doha Asian Games are unlikely to do so here

Kiwis consolidate after Sreesanth's breakthrough

Hyderabad, Nov 12 : India failed to drive home the advantage it gained after S Sreesanth gave the hosts the first breakthrough scalping opener Brendon McCullum (4), as New Zealand were 75 runs for one wicket at lunch on the first day of the second Test at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium here today.

McCullum was beaten by a fiery Sreesanth outswinger that saw him edge it straight into the hands of wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni with his individual score reading four.

However, Tim McIntosh and Martin Guptill consolidated the innings with some sedate batting that saw no further damage.

They added 71 crucial runs for the unbroken partnership for the second wicket.

At lunch, McIntosh was on 25 runs that comprised of three hits to the fence. Guptill was going steady with 36 that included two boundaries and one over the fence.

Luck favoured McIntosh twice in the innings. He was caught by Dhoni off a Sreesanth no-ball and the captain later dropped him off Harbhajan, who replaced Zaheer Khan from the pavilion end.

Earlier, amid sunny conditions New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and elected to bat at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium.

The stadium, consequently, became the 21st Test venue in the country.

Meanwhile, India retained the same team that played in the first Test.

However, the visiting team made three changes in the squad.

Brent Arnel, Martin Guptill and all-rounder Tim Southee replaced Hamish Bennett, B J Watling and Jeetan Patel respectively.

Teams: India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, S Sreesanth, Pragyan Ojha.

New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Brendon McCullum, Tim McIntosh, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder, Kane Williamson, Gareth Hopkins, Chris Martin, Tim Southee, Brent Arnel.

Johnson wants England skipper Andrew Strauss to be his bunny

Sydney, Nov 12 : To dominate the England batting line up, Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson will attempt to turn Andrew Strauss into his bunny during the Ashes series.

Johnson said England would disintegrate if Strauss failed at the top of the order.

"Look, I think if we can go after their captain, Strauss, I think if you can get him early at the top order, hopefully (that will) put a lot of pressure on their lower-middle order," Johnson said on Thursday.

"Being the captain, I think they've really looked up to him in the last 18 months, especially after beating us at their home. If we can put a lot of pressure on him then hopefully they can crumble a little bit," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted him, as saying.

Strauss was dismissed for just four on Thursday in the tour match against South Australia, but showed fine form last week with an unbeaten 120 against Western Australia.

Johnson also piled the pressure on England opener Alastair Cook, who has scored just 226 runs in his past 10 Test innings and was out for 32 off 91 balls against the Redbacks.

"I guess we saw that the last Ashes - he was probably a bit of a weak link for them. There will definitely be a lot of pressure on him that's for sure," Johnson said.

Pak team's morale 'pretty good' despite wicketkeeper Haider's sudden exit: Waqar

Dubai, Nov 12 : The Pakistan cricket team's morale is 'pretty good' despite the chaos and controversies surrounding it, and the sudden departure of wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider to England, the team's coach Waqar Younis has said.

"Morale is pretty good. What happened in the last four, months five months, it's not ideal, not what we want, but we are all professional," the Daily Times quoted Younis, as saying in a news conference in Dubai on Thursday- the day before the start of a two-Test series against South Africa.

"If we deliver the goods tomorrow we stand a good chance. We've got a fairly good side," the coach added.

Earlier on Monday morning, Haider had quietly slipped out of the Grand Hyatt in Dubai and boarded a London-bound flight. The player had not even discussed his plans with any of his team officials or fellow teammates.

On the morning of Pakistan's final ODI match against South Africa, a message on Haider's Facebook wall read: "leaving Pakistan cricket because get bad msg fr 1 man fr lose the match in last game." just hours before the final one-day international against South Africa in Dubai.

Announcing his sudden decision to bow out from international cricket, the wicketkeeper told a news channel that he was receiving threats from an unknown person, and thus he decided to leave Dubai immediately and went to London, where he is now seeking asylum.