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Ajantha Mendis makes history in Lanka win A j a n t h a M e n d i s became the first bowler to bag six wickets in a Twenty20 international as Sri Lanka clinched the series 2-0 a g a i n s t Australia with an eight-run win in the second match on Monday. The unorthodox spinner finished with 6-16 off four overs as Australia lost their way after an explosive start provided by Shane Watson, who hammered a 24-ball 57 with five sixes and six fours. Australia, who lost the first match by 35 runs, were eventually restricted to 149-9, after the hosts made 157 at the Pallekele International Stadium. Sri Lanka were indebted to opener Mahela Jayawardene (86 off 63 balls) for posting a competitive total before Mendis ended Australia's early flourish.
RatioanlFx to sponsor Birmingham City this year RationalFX will be the main sponsors of Birmingham City for the 2011-12 season and are looking forward to see their name on the famous blue shirts. Birmingham City is also happy with the development. Ian Ditton, commercial manager of the football club said, “We are very much looking forward to working closely with such a dynamic, rapidly expanding company. From the very first conversation we had with RationalFX it was clear that the company mirrored Birmingham City’s professionalism and ambition." Birmingham City are the current Carling Cup holders - having defeated Arsenal in the final at Wembley earlier this year - and are also in the UEFA Europa League. Rajesh Agrawal, Chairman and CEO of RationalFX, the trading name of Rational Foreign Exchange Limited, said, "RationalFX has just passed one billion pounds of foreign exchange business and we have also just launched a new online money transfer service – Xendpay. So we feel that this is a perfect time to associate ourselves with a big European football club.”
Asian Voice - Saturday 13th August 2011
Dispirited India face likely disaster at Edgbaston
By Premen Addy
The sight of woebegone pace spearhead Zaheer Khan limping off the ground after bowling three ineffective overs yielding 24 runs in a two-day 12-a-side warm up game against a Northamptonshire second XI at Northampton summed up India's situation. They looked dispirited and broken-backed, their hyped tour of England a damp squib best forgotten. It will take Zaheer 14 weeks to recover from his hamstrung injury and from an operation to a damaged ankle. The selectors have much to answer for picking a man so clearly unfit for purpose in a series meant to settle the No 1 spot in Test cricket. Virender Sehwag, who had flown in from Delhi following a two-month recuperation from a shoulder operation, failed to find his feet or timing in an awkward 30-minute occupation of the crease before being pinned lbw for 8 by rookie David Burton. His partner Gautam Gambhir, equally ill at ease for his hour at the wicket, departed for 18. Mahindra Singh Dhoni, the captain, made 2 and VVS Laxman 49, the day's silver lining being Abhinav Mukund's stylish 113 retired. India were all out for 352, to which Northamptonshire replied with 355 for 7 when stumps were drawn. Their openers Mal Loye and Niall O'Brien were in robust form striking a century apiece. Amit Mishra looked good with bat and ball (61 and 2 for 62 from 25 overs of leg-spin and googlies) and will surely return to the Test squad as replacement for the dismal Harbhajan Singh. Common sense (always in short supply with Indian selectors, home or abroad) would decree that Mukund, with a hundred under his belt, retain his position as opener. Sehwag or Gambhir could partner him. I would favour the explosive Sehwag rather than the staid Gambhir, but my opinion, not having been solicited, is exclusive to this page. England are on a roll. They are well primed and raring to go. On present showing they should be home and dry
Abhinav Mukund on his way to score 113 against Northamptonshire in the 3 day match.
without breaking sweat. Farokh Engineer, India's debonair wicketkeeper-batsman of the 1960s and 70s, but now a beer-barrelled media guru of goodly girth, let fly at coach Duncan Fletcher for India's present woes. He took issue at Fletcher's selection, since it was done at Gary Kirsten's prompting, who as coach himself had taken India to the top of the Test league and presided over their ODI World Cup triumph. Perhaps Engineer was deep in his cups when made his foolish and ill-considered remark. Fletcher, respected worldwide as a fine coach with a good record, has only recently taken over the reins with India. Better to leave him well alone and concentrate instead on India's inept cricket administration, the captain and his players. There has been a visible loss of pride in that quarter. Meanwhile, there is much to rejoice about in Zimbabwe's emphatic 130 run Test match victory over Bangladesh in Harare. The hosts had requested the ICC for temporary exclusion from the Test
scene until they had put their broken house in order. After years in the Test wilderness, Zimbabwe have returned to emphasise their Test match credentials with a well scripted victory in which their bowlers and batsmen played an equal part. Much credit is also due to coach Alan Butcher, a former Surrey player and coach, who has brought his team up to speed internationally. Bangladesh have been playing Test cricket since 2000 and precious little to show for their efforts, apart from inebriated talk on the coming spring amid the seemingly permanent winter of discontent. Time to take a break from Tests, as Zimbabwe wisely did, and return to the basics. Bangladesh still have much to learn about the game at the highest level. Zimbabwe 370 (Masakadz 50, Sibanda 78, Taylor 71) and 291 for 5 declared (Taylor 105 not out, Taibu 59) Bangladesh 287 (Nafees 50, Ashraful 73, Shakib 68, Vittori 4 for 68) and 244. Zimbabwe's Brendon Taylor was Man-of-the-Match.
Dravid to retire from ODI, T20 after current series Rahul Dravid who was rewarded with a place in the one-day side after his high performances in the first two test matches will be retiring from ODI and T20 matches after the current series. Dravid, addressing the media, said that the recall had taken him by total surprise. “I was not considered for One-dayers for two years. So, I was not expecting this. This has come as a surprise. I am honoured and privileged to be chosen,” he said. He went on to add that he would do his best under the circumstances but his body language suggested that there was more to it. Maybe, he wasn’t up to it. In fact, he showed the BCCI and its selectors in a totally poor and unprofessional light by saying that this would be his last One-day series. “I am announcing my retirement from One-dayers and T20,” he declared. “I will play this series, of course, but I won’t be available after that.” He was visibly shocked by the development, rather than pleasantly surprised as many had expected. Dravid made it clear that he simply
wanted to focus all his energy on Test cricket. “I hadn’t communicated my intentions to the Board,” he said, trying to save the day for the BCCI. “But I am going to play only Tests from now on,” he said. “I will try and do my best in these tough conditions,” he added. Dravid, it may be recalled, had last
played for the Indian One-day side in 2009. That time too, he had been sent an SOS as the team was preparing for the Champions Trophy in South Africa despite being off the radar since 2007. With the rest of the batting looking brittle, it was felt that his experience and technique would come in handy. But six months into the experiment, he was shown the door. Since then, it has been a tough ride for him. “It wasn’t easy,” Dravid had conceded earlier on this tour. “I was assailed by doubts. I wondered if I was still good enough,” he explained. He was still scoring runs but it lacked the solidity associated with him. He must have given up all hopes of playing in coloured clothing for India again, especially as the young brigade had started charming the country. More importantly, the side went on to win the World Cup, too, virtually sealing his fate. At the same time, he didn’t seem as solid as he is wont to be. Dravid, however, has been the master on this tour, tackling the conditions and the seam, swing and
pace of England dexterously. His two centuries stood out, especially, with most of the others at their wits’ end. But, clearly, even he has been taken by surprise. Dravid recalled to ODI squad Rahul Dravid has been recalled to India's ODI squad after two years for the series against England beginning on Sept 3. Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh, who were injured, have been left out of the 16-member squad for five ODIs and oneoff Twenty20, selectors announced. Dravid is in brilliant form with two backto-back centuries against England in the first two Tests. He last played in an ODI against West Indies in the Champions Trophy at Johannesburg, Sept 30, 2009. Squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag (vice-captain), Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Zaheer Khan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Praveen Kumar, Munaf Patel, Ishant Sharma, Vinay Kumar, Amit Mishra and Parthiv Patel.