Took a chance bringing Zaheer on a little earlier: Vettori

Bangalore: Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Daniel Vettori was as pleased as punch after his ploy to bring Zaheer Khan back into the attack worked in their 26-run win over Pune Warriors in the Indian Premier League on Friday. Zaheer took the vital wicket of Yuvraj Singh at a time when the dashing left-hander threatened to take the match away from the home side. © AFP Zaheer took the...

Happy to get Orange Cap: Kohli

Bangalore: Young Indian batsman Virat Kohli had more than one reason to be delighted after his team Royal Challengers Bangalore''s triumph over Pune Warriors as the right-hander didn''t just produce a match-wining knock, he also overtook Sachin Tendulkar as the leading run-scorer of the ongoing IPL. Kohli was handed the Orange Cap for topping the batting aggregate with 291 runs, 24 ahead of...

Delhi register convincing win over Kochi

Kochi: Virender Sehwag hit a rollicking half-century as Delhi Daredevils scored a 38-run win over Kochi Tuskers Kerala to keep its play-offs hopes alive in the Indian Premier League here on Saturday. Sehwag blazed his way to a 47-ball 80 to lead his side to a competitive 157 for seven after electing to bat on a very difficult track, which had uneven bounce. Delhi were gasping 37 for three at...

KKR rock Kings with quick wickets

Kolkata: The Kolkata Knight Riders gained an early momentum against the Kings XI Punjab as they struck with quick wickets in their IPL match at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday. Earlier, KKR's skipper Gautam Gambhir won the toss and elected to bowl first. The home side made just one change into their playing eleven with all-rounder Rajat Bhatia replacing Jaidev Unadkat. The visitors, on...

Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar give newly-appointed India coach Duncan Fletcher unfriendly welcome

Outspoken ... Kapil Dev says and Indian should coach the national side. Source: Marwan Naamani / AFP India's newly-appointed coach Duncan Fletcher got a taste of the challenges he faces when two senior former players said a fellow countryman should have got the job instead. Fletcher, a former Zimbabwe all-rounder who rose to prominence during his eight-year stint as...

Former Sri Lanka captain Hashan Tillakaratne makes fresh match-fixing allegations against former teammates

Hashan Tillakaratne... has alleged Sri Lanka's cricketers are involved in match-fixing. Source: Phil Hillyard / News Limited The spectre of match fixing has never been far from cricket in 2011 and despite the success of the World Cup new allegations have been made. Sri Lanka's former cricket captain Hashan Tillakaratne claimed ...

White believes Chargers can upset Chennai

  Although defending champions Chennai Super Kings are a formidable force at home, Deccan Chargers can topple them if they combine their batting and bowling units effectively, feels the Chargers vice-captain Cameron White. White said he was positive that the Deccan Chargers could pull off an upset win against the men in yellow when they face them in a crucial tie at the M A Chidambaram...

Warne uncertain for Pune match

  Rajasthan Royals captain Shane Warne is uncertain for his side's crucial Indian Premier League match against Pune Warriors India on Sunday as he is carrying a swollen knee. The legendary Australian spinner was seen gauging the strength of his knees during Saturday's practice session. "Yes it is still swollen. Cartilage of my left knee is inflamed. There is swelling and I will...

It was obvious I had to bat longer: Sehwag

  Delhi Daredevils captain Virender Sehwag, who came up with a patient knock against the Kochi Tuskers Kerala, said he was determined to bat throughout the innings. The wicket was not easy, I took the responsibility to play a long innings: Sehwag.[© AFP] Sehwag led from the front with a 47-ball 80 to guide Delhi to a challenging 157 for seven and then his bowlers, led...

Afghanistan cricket teams play in Pakistan

Rashid Latif is keen to unearth new talentAfghanistan coach Rashid Latif hopes to unearth new cricket stars among poor refugee communities during matches being played in the Pakistani border city of Peshawar, he said on Friday. Although Pakistan no longer hosts international cricket because of poor security, war-torn Afghanistan's cricketers are crossing the border to play in Peshawar because...

Fletcher is the best man for the job, says Akram

Wasim Akram says Waqar Younis rates Duncan Fletcher very highlyFormer Pakistan captain Wasim Akram feels the decision of BCCI to appoint Duncan Fletcher as the chief coach of the national team is a positive one. "After Gary Kirsten, Fletcher is the best man to be Indian team's mentor," Akram said on Friday. "He is very experienced and has vast knowledge. Waqar (Younis), who played in Glamorgan...

Fletcher has great skills as a coach, feels Gilchrist

Former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist feels Duncan Fletcher's vast experience will be an advantage for the Indian team when they take on England later this year. Leading Kings XI Punjab in IPL, Gilchrist however refused to comment on whether the former England coach will be able to replicate the success he achieved as the coach of the England team. Asked to comment on the appointment...

No Indian flavour in Australia T20 Big Bash

Australia cricketers may be participating in the IPL but Indian players would not get the BCCI's permission to compete in the Twenty20 Big Bash League Down Under later this year because of domestic tournaments. BCCI Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty said the Board would not free the players of their domestic season commitments which run from October to March. The Big Bash is scheduled...

Boucher replaces injured Haddin

 The Kolkata Knight Riders have confirmed that they will be without Australian wicket-keeper Brad Haddin for the rest of the IPL 4 season. Haddin, who had joined the KKR squad straight after their tour of Bangladesh was diagnosed with an acute fracture on his middle finger, an injury that he sustained during that tour. South African wicket-keeper Mark Boucher is due to replace the Australian...

Fletcher could come a cropper when he tours UK with Indian team: Swann

Graeme Swann is confident England can beat IndiaEngland off-spinner Graeme Swann has said that new Indian cricket team coach Duncan Fletcher could "come a cropper" if he tries to use his intimate knowledge of players such as Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Strauss against them this summer. "Fletcher knows a few of our players better than some other coaches would," Swann conceded on Thursday, in...

Players can't ignore IPL lure - Law

Stuart Law, Sri Lanka's interim coach, has expressed sympathy with Lasith Malinga's decision to quit Test cricket due to a knee condition, but has also acknowledged that the lure of the IPL - with its bumper signings and opportunities to secure oneself financially in quick time - makes it difficult for players to continue playing international cricket. He added it was important to keep India...

Delhi rout Kochi after Sehwag masterclass

Virender Sehwag showcased his class on a tricky Nehru Stadium surface on which numerous deliveries hardly got up above ankle height. Sehwag took his time before exploding in the end to lift Delhi Daredevils to 157, a score that proved beyond Kochi Tuskers Kerala and breathed some life in to Delhi's doddering campaign. In a knock that must surely go down as one of the best IPL innings, Sehwag...

Botha stars as Rajasthan hammer Mumbai

Mumbai Indians' first batting collapse of the tournament gave Rajasthan Royals a small target of 95 to chase on a dry and cracked pitch in Jaipur. Although the home team had to fight hard for their victory, it ended up being a comprehensive one.  Sachin Tendulkar expected conditions to be difficult for batting but he probably didn't expect that none of his batsmen...

Fletcher could 'come a cropper' against England - Swann

Duncan Fletcher may have coached the England team for eight years but there's still a "hell of a lot" about them that he "doesn't know at all", offspinner Graeme Swann has said. Fletcher was named India's new coach, replacing Gary Kirsten, and his first assignment is likely to be the tour of England later in the year. Swann, who was not in Fletcher's good books when he first played for England...

Kohli, Gayle blast Bangalore to 181

Chris Gayle began the violence, and Virat Kohli managed to add his own touches to it. The result was that Pune Warriors bled 181 runs in their 20 overs, despite conceding only six runs off the final over. Ninety-one of those runs came in seven overs of mad hitting against Kamran Khan and Jerome Taylor, leaving Pune a tough chase to end their four-match losing streak. It was the typical IPL...

Haddin ruled out of IPL with a broken finger

Brad Haddin's Indian Premier League campaign was cut short after the KKR wicketkeeper was detected with a fractured finger. An MRI in New Delhi on Thursday revealed that the injury sustained during Australia's series in Bangladesh has not healed as he is all set to fly home and undergo a surgery. The 33-year-old Aussie wicketkeeper was not available for the first three outings of the KKR as...

New captain Shortis confident

Norway's new captain, Dan Shortis is excited about the team he will be leading at next week's Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 7 in Gaborone and is looking forward to a packed week of cricket. The top order batsman said: "It's been a lot of fun preparing for this tournament and working with the team. They're a great bunch of guys and there are plenty of leader types within the squad...

Lion heart Rampaul exploits extra bounce

Ravi Rampaul takes his 4th wicket.Fast bowler Ravi Rampaul was awesome with the ball and bowled his way into the hearts of West Indies fans at Kensington Oval, on Thursday - National Heroes Day. The lion-hearted effort of 4-34 from nine overs was however not enough to prevent the Windies from going down for the third time in the ODI Series. The bowlers were asked to defend 171 in 45 overs...

I am available for West Indies tour: Harbhajan

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh today said that he would be available for the Indian cricket team''s forthcoming tour of West Indies but was not aware of the plans of other senior players. "I have no idea from where the news (of senior players opting out of West Indies tour) have poured in. As far as I am concerned I am available for the tour," Harbhajan told reporters ahead of his IPL side Mumbai...

Fletcher will be successful in India: Atherton

Mike Atherton rates Duncan Fletcher very highlyFormer England captain Mike Atherton on Thursday predicted that Duncan Fletcher's stint with the Indian cricket would be successful, just like that of his predecessor Gary Kirsten. BCCI appointed Fletcher as India's coach for two years as Kirsten decided against extending his contract. "Fletcher will be closer to his predecessor Gary Kirsten,...

Sehwag happy with Fletcher's early appointment

Virender Sehwag and Gautam GambhirIndia and Delhi Daredevils opener Virender Sehwag reckons the BCCI did the right thing by appointing Duncan Fletcher as coach soon after Gary Kirsten's departure as it has given the Zimbabwean enough time to settle with the side. "It's good for India. It's a good thing that the BCCI has found a replacement in quick time. It will obviously help the players...

Kolkata fight back to keep Delhi bottom

Delhi Daredevils' all-pace attack seemed to have done enough at the halfway stage to get their team a much-required win but Kolkata Knight Riders showed their mettle to scrap their way to an 18-run victory on a two-paced Feroz Shah Kotla track. Both teams seemed to have misread the pitch, packing their sides with quicks. It was left-arm spinner Iqbal Abdulla though who was the...

Chanderpaul questions Hilaire's comments

Former West Indies captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul has demanded an explanation from WICB chief Ernest Hilaire regarding the comments he made regarding the lack of discipline and application in the team, leading up to its massive post World Cup overhaul. In a strongly-worded letter addressed to Hilaire, a copy of which is with ESPNcricinfo, Chanderpaul questioned whether the comments were directed...

Calm Misbah secures series victory

Ravi Rampaul single-handedly gave West Indies hope of keeping the one-day series alive with a blistering spell in Barbados to cut through Pakistan's top order. He ripped out three early scalps and, bowling his full allotment of overs unchanged, also accounted for the dangerous Umar Akmal leaving Misbah-ul-Haq as the key to the chase as Pakistan hunt victory.The only way West Indies were going to...