Ricky Ponting rates Brian Lara ahead of Sachin Tendulkar

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has rated Brian Lara ahead of Sachin Tendulkar as he feels the West Indian batsman enabled his team win more matches.Sachin and Lara were the two stand-out batsmen for me. Lara won more games for his team than Sachin probably has. I'd lose more sleep as captain knowing Lara was coming in to bat next day than I would with Sachin," said Ponting.

New Zealand's Mathew Sinclair announces cricket retirement

Mathew Sinclair, who made a double century on his test debut for New Zealand, has announced his retirement from all cricket at age 37. Sinclair who is married with two children - son Liam, 4, and daughter Holly, 3 - told the Manawatu Evening Standard he had applied for unemployment benefits because he now has no job. Australian-born Sinclair, who played 33 tests and 54 one-day internationals, made 214 on test debut against the West Indies in 1999; then the second-highest total by a debuting batsman.

Pakistan to capitalise on hosts' struggling batsmen

In the wake of a thumping 126-run series-opening victory, Pakistan will again seek to capitalise

Ashes limited to just four umpires

Looks like the International Cricket Council (ICC) and its elite panel of umpires are in a fix for the Ashes. With the umpires coming under pressure post the DRS fiasco during the first Test at Trent Bridge — the body admitted that the umpires had erred on seven occasions — the same set of four umpires will be officiating during the whole series.

The current panel of elite umpires, twelve in total, has five Englishmen and three Australians.

So effectively, taking into account the neutral umpire rule for Test matches, only Aleem Dar, Kumar Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus and Tony Hill are qualified to officiate in the series.

Ekta Kapoor starts work on Mohammad Azharuddin biopic

Former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin is the latest to join the long list of personalities whose biopics are currently under production. And although Ekta Kapoor is yet to go on record about the project, we have learnt that work on the much-talked-about film is already underway.

John Buchanan quits as New Zealand's director of cricket

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced on Friday that former Australian coach John Buchanan was leaving his post as director of cricket effective immediately, after just over two years in the job. "(He) is disappointed to be leaving NZC at this time, as he has enjoyed his work there," the organisation said in a brief statement. "However, due to family circumstances, he has decided to return to Australia."

Buchanan had reportedly been sidelined at NZC since late last year, when he supported Ross Taylor after coach Mike Hesson sacked the batsman as skipper in favour of Brendon McCullum.

ICC defends India stand on DRS

The BCCI does “have its own reasons” for opposing the controversial Decision Review System (DRS), according to International Cricket Council’s chief executive Dave Richardson who admitted that the DRS technology was not foolproof. The DRS has come under scanner in the wake of the controversial first Ashes Test which witnessed a number of umpiring howlers.

“India have got good reasons (for opposing) and some issues are debatable. Obviously we can improve and discuss on things like three reviews,” Richardson said.

Ashes Test: Bell tolls for Australia

England, after winning the toss, were 289 for seven against Australia at the close of the first day of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s on Thursday. Tim Bresnan was seven not out and James Anderson four not out after Ian Bell made 109. Bell became only the fourth Englishman to score centuries in three consecutive Ashes matches when he made a century in the second Test against Australia at Lord’s on Thursday.

Another bad day for Decision Review System

The review system was the subject of unwanted attention at Lord's again. TOI points out why...

Phil Hughes c Prior b Bresnan

The No. 4 batsman chased a wide delivery off Bresnan and there was a meek appeal from the 'keeper and slip fielders for a caught-behind verdict. Umpire Kumar Dharmasena though raised his finger, prompting the batsman to call for a review. While the stump microphone did pick up a sound, the Hot Spot replays proved inconclusive. Third umpire Tony Hill, however, decided there was enough audio evidence to send the batsman on his way. Hughes understandably was disappointed.

3rd ODI: Jason Holder's heroics earn West Indies a tie against Pakistan

West Indies number 11 Jason Holder smashed 14 runs off the final over to earn his side a dramatic tie with Pakistan in the third one-day international at Beausejour Stadium in St Lucia on Friday.Bungling Pakistan wicketkeeper Umar Akmal had the opportunity to run out the player off the final ball but missed a simple throw from the boundary to allow the stranded Holder to make his ground and level the scores.
Pakistan looked to be heading for victory having posted a modest 229 for six wickets in their 50 overs, but the final West Indian pair of Holder and Kemar Roach struck 24 off 13 balls to leave the five-match series tied at 1-1.

China shuns Indian Badminton League

Badminton powerhouse China will not take part in the inaugural Indian Badminton League next month, organisers said on Monday, taking much of the sheen off the million-dollar event. Former India cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar is said to have a stake in the Mumbai franchise which will play against teams from Pune, Lucknow, Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

Cronje took Rs 1.2 crore to fix matches: Delhi Police

Former South African captain Hansie Cronje was paid Rs 1.20 crore in two installments of Rs 60 lakh each by London-based bookie Sanjeev Chawla to fix matches between India and South Africa, alleges the Delhi Police chargesheet on the match-fixing scandal of 2000.

Virat Kohli, Ambati Rayudu power India to 6-wicket win over Zimbabwe

Virat Kohli cracked a scintillating century as India thrashed minnows Zimbabwe by six wickets in the first cricket one-dayer to take a 1-0 lead in the five match series on Wednesday.

Gujarat Ranji player is now US national team skipper

Former Gujarat Ranji player Timil Patel has been appointed captain of US's national cricket team for a series against Canada for the Auty Cup. The tour started on Thursday.
The 29-year-old Amdavadi leg-spinner emigrated to the US with his family in 2010 after playing 38 first class games for Gujarat. He made his international debut for the US on November 14, 2012, against Canada in the previous edition of the Auty Cup played in Florida.

Ind vs Zim: Mighty India thrash Zimbabwe by 58 runs, take 2-0 lead

Shikhar Dhawan capitalised on three reprieves to slam his third ODI century as India maintained their stranglehold over minnows Zimbabwe with a comfortable 58-run victory in the second cricket one-dayer on Friday.
Bengal panchayat polls: Counting underway, Trinamool takes early lead in most districts

Counting for the West Bengal panchayat polls started on Monday with initial trends putting ruling Trinamool Congress in the lead in most of the districts.

With security ring provided by both central and state security forces, 329 counting centres have been set up which by Monday evening will decide the fate of thousands of candidates in fray.

According to a State Election Commission official, the Trinamool Congress is leading in most of the districts as per the initial counting trends.

No proof against Gurunath, Kundra, says BCCI probe panel

Exactly 58 days after he "stepped aside" as BCCI president, the decks have been cleared for N Srinivasan's return to the helm of the richest cricket body in the world.

A report submitted by a two-member panel that probed allegations of betting and spot-fixing against Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, India Cements Ltd (owner of Chennai Super Kings) and Jaipur IPL Pvt Ltd (owner of Rajasthan Royals), found no direct evidence of wrongdoing on the part of any party. The panel consisted of two former judges of the Tamil Nadu high court, Jayaram Chouta and R Balasubramanian.

Ind vs Zim: India beat Zimbabwe by 7 wickets to take unassailable 3-0 lead

A disciplined India notched up a convincing seven-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the third one-day international to secure an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series on Sunday.

Hungary win fuels Mercedes title hopes

Mercedes believe they can put their tyre woes behind them and mount a genuine Formula One title challenge after Lewis Hamilton's Hungarian Grand Prix win on Sunday.

The 2008 world champion might have greeted his first victory for Mercedes since his move from McLaren at the end of last season as something of a 'miracle' but others saw it differently.

Paes, Hingis lead Kastles to 'hat-trick' of titles

The Leander Paes-led Washington Kastles won their third World Team Tennis (WTT) title in a row — and their fourth in five years — after overwhelming Springfield Lasers 25-12 in the grand finale on Sunday.
Playing in front of their home fans at Kastles Stadium in Washington DC, the champions won all five matches with five-time Grand Slam singles champion Martina Hingis and doubles ace Paes playing stellar roles.
Hingis, who will make a comeback to the WTA Tour this week when she plays doubles with Daniela Hantuchova at the Southern California Open in Carlsbad, won her women's singles, women's doubles (with Anastasia Rodionova) and mixed doubles (with Paes) matches comfortably.

Suspense over BCCI chief's reinstatement intensifies

The tension surrounding N Srinivasan's return as the president of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) increased on Wednesday with conflicting reports indicating that Srinivasan might already be back in the seat.
NDTV, a news channel, said Srinivasan had taken charge of the Indian Cricket Board at 8 pm on Tuesday. However, according to Times Now, top BCCI officials have denied that Srinivasan has returned as the chief of the BCCI.

Earlier in June, Srinivasan had said that he would step aside as BCCI president till the probe panel gave its findings into match-fixing and betting allegations against his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan and India Cements-owned franchise Chennai Super Kings. Now that the panel has submitted its report, and given them a clean chit, it is being suggested that he can return to the chair.

India has self-belief to retain 2015 World Cup title: Kapil Dev

India's 1983 World Cup winning skipper Kapil Dev feels the growing self belief of the Indian cricket team that they can win regularly outside their own borders could hold them in good stead to defend the 2015 World Cup title in Australia and New Zealand.

Indian sides have notoriously played like champs at home and chumps overseas, but Kapil thinks the country's triumph at this year's Champions Trophy in the United Kingdom could prove to be a pivotal moment on the road to the game's showpiece event in early 2015.