Watches Niklas Hjalmarsson pummels Jason Pominville 10.11.2010

Niklas Hjalmarsson pummels Jason Pominville 10.11.2010



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Watches Italia Serbia scontri a Genova partita rinviata

Italia Serbia scontri a Genova partita rinviata



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Watches this new video enjoy James Wisniewski makes obscene gesture towards Sean Avery

James Wisniewski makes obscene gesture towards Sean Avery



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Watch Jérémie Janot se fait allumer

Jérémie Janot se fait allumer



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Watches South Korea Track Preview

South Korea Track Preview



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Watches Chris Maguire 50 yard goal against Iceland 11/10/2010

Chris Maguire 50 yard goal against Iceland 11/10/2010



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Watches James Wisniewski Taunts Sean Avery Oct 11, 2010

James Wisniewski Taunts Sean Avery Oct 11, 2010



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Watches Scotland vs Iceland Goal from Half way line U21 Chris Maguire

Scotland vs Iceland Goal from Half way line U21 Chris Maguire



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Watches Sebastian Vettel queimou a largada em Suzuka?

Sebastian Vettel queimou a largada em Suzuka?



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Watch Wisniewski Obscene Gesture Towards Sean Avery

Wisniewski Obscene Gesture Towards Sean Avery

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Watch Asia Cup Cricket 2010: Ind vs Pak: today's match latest updates

Asia Cup Cricket 2010: Ind vs Pak: today's match latest updates

Ind vs Pak:In today' match Pakistan will have to perform exceptionally well if they intend to stay in the tournament as they have already lost a game to Sri Lanka despite Afridi's power packed performance.

THE MOST awaited competition between India and Pakistan will be played today at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. The fourth day of the match is expected to receive hundreds and thousands of spectators for today's match. The match will be telecast live at 2:30 PM IST.

In today' match Pakistan will have to perform exceptionally well if they intend to stay in the tournament as they have already lost a game to Sri Lanka despite Afridi's power packed performance. For this, they will have to make slight changes in order to face the men in blue.

A slight rearranging in the batting line is essential as they have got a lead attack in the bowling department from Shoaib Akhtar. This will be an ordeal for the Indian side especially the top and middle order.

Pakistan as a team is known be very volatile and perform dangerously when exposed to a do or die situation. During last year's champions trophy as well, Pakistan defeated the Indian side when Shoaib Mallik scored a brilliant century. And to add to the Indian woes, Afridi's knockout of 109 off 79 balls is alarming as well.

However, the game is equally crucial for India as well. India has to pep up its bowling line as a specimen was already shown by the Bangladehsi batsmen. On the other hand, top order batsmen like Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and Rohit Shrama have to add a good amount of runs in order to free the middle order batsmen like M. S. Dhoni out of pressure.

INDIAN SQUAD: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Praveen Kumar, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Pragyan Ojha, Ashok Dinda, R. Ashwin, Saurabh Tiwary.

PAKISTAN SQUAD: Shahid Afridi (capt), Salman Butt (vice capt), Imran Farhat, Shahzaib Hasan, Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Malik, Umar Amin, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Amir, Shoaib Akhtar, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman.
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Watch England batsman Kevin Pietersen left short of practice after Dolphins draw

England batsman Kevin Pietersen left short of practice after Dolphins draw

Kevin Pietersen had to be content with a single innings as his first match for the KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins ended in a draw on Sunday.

Pietersen made 36 off 48 balls on the first day but it proved to be his only opportunity to find batting form ahead of England's Ashes tour of Australia.



The Dolphins piled up 6-500 declared in their SuperSport Series match against the Eastern Cape Warriors.

In a match plagued by stoppages for bad light, the Warriors were bowled out for 156 and were forced to follow on. They managed to bat out the fourth and final day, scoring 303 for nine.

Pietersen will make a second appearance for the Dolphins before joining England later this month. The Dolphins play against the Centurion-based Titans in another four-day match starting in Durban on Thursday.

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We are see this Proteas batsman JP Duminy hits the highest ever individual Twenty20 score for a South African

Proteas batsman JP Duminy hits the highest ever individual Twenty20 score for a South African


JP Duminy hit 96 not out, the highest score by a South African in a Twenty20 international, and it proved just enough to secure a 2-0 series victory against Zimbabwe at the Diamond Oval.

Duminy propelled South Africa to an imposing 6-194 in 20 overs but Zimbabwe made a spirited reply before losing by eight runs.

Brendan Taylor and Chamu Chibhabha both hit 59 as Zimbabwe raced to 1-122 with seven overs remaining.

In the end it was Duminy's late assault that made the difference. The left-hander made his runs off 54 balls, with his last 46 scored off just 17 deliveries, as South Africa scored 67 off the last five overs of their innings.

It was a closing rate Zimbabwe could not match as five batsmen fell to catches off attempted big hits and captain Elton Chigumbura was run out attempting an improbable second run in the penultimate over.

Zimbabwe's total of 7-186 was their highest in a Twenty20 international and Chigumbura said he was happy with his side's improved showing after they went down by seven wickets with 25 balls remaining in the first match in Bloemfontein on Friday.

"It was a much better performance, especially with the ball," said Chigumbura,



"but the last three overs went for many (runs). Overall I'm happy."

Johan Botha, South Africa's newly-appointed Twenty20 captain, gave credit to Zimbabwe for making the match so close.

"They played excellently in the chase," he said.
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Watches this Australia's sledging all bluff, players actors with roles, Matthew Hayden says in Standing My Ground

Australia's sledging all bluff, players actors with roles, Matthew Hayden says in Standing My Ground


Matthew Hayden has confessed the stunning secret of how Australia's cricketers became world champion sledgers, saying it was all a giant bluff.

In his new book, Standing My Ground, launched on Sunday, the Australia Test great reveals how the great Australian team often conned their rivals into running scared with fierce verbal intimidation.

"It was as if we had all the answers," he says.

"We didn't.

"We just never let anyone know that we didn't.

"As a consequence, we often saw the mental disintegration of players and teams happening before our eyes.

"Sometimes we annihilated teams who should have performed far better than they did, simply because they were beaten in the battle for mental supremacy, often before the match began."



Hayden, 38, was part of a champion Australia team, including fellow greats Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist and Glenn McGrath, that created a hard-nosed aura and appeared almost unbeatable.

But Hayden has revealed that all was not quite as it seemed, with various players performing roles, almost like actors.

"Our intimidation of other teams was very much a collective effort, with players filling a range of unspoken yet clearly defined roles," Hayden says.

"Damien Martyn would never have dreamt of putting serious verbal heat on someone, partly because he would have struggled with the retaliation.

"But he still had a clear role to swagger around as if he thought the opposition were schoolboys.

"I tried to be subtle with my chirps, sometimes walking in the opposite direction as I spoke or covering my mouth.

"I always felt I was a bit of a hitman for the boys, and if I had to take on Brian Lara or Sachin Tendulkar, I would.

"Being a big bloke was important, but equally important was that I was prepared to cop the return fire and still perform. If I was the man to rattle someone's cage, I could do it with relish.
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Watch John Higgins cleared of match fixing

John Higgins cleared of match fixing


Source: www.bbc.co.uk
John Higgins, three-times world snooker champion, was cleared of match fixing allegations. He and his manager were filmed accepting a sum for altering a snooker match outcome. With the Pakistani cricket team still in trouble for match fixing this is just another case which damages the reputation of sport and sport betting. With people being able to bet on outcomes during the game, also called spot betting, match fixing seems to have become more common. Cricket has seen a few match fixing scandals before and so has soccer lately. With sport betting in trouble more people will be looking to gamble at a casino online. Many Online casinos have been expanding into many different markets offering great new games in all kinds of languages. In German, for instance, Online Casino Spiele is a good point to start.
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Watch Cricket: Pakistan beats England by 38 runs

Cricket: Pakistan beats England by 38 runs


ource: www.bbc.co.uk
Pakistan leveled the on-day series with England at 2-2. Batting under floodlights proofed to be very difficult for the English and once again Pakistan’s bowlers proofed to be a handful. England finished 38 runs short, all out for 227 in 46.1 overs. With the recent match fixing claims this match was very controversial and tensions run high. England Coach Andy Flower believes the one-day series has been devalued by continuing spot-fixing allegations. England was reluctant to play after remarks were made that they also accepted payments to lose the match on Friday.
With comments going back and forth and some players still being interviewed by the police, many believe that the damage to cricket will be substantial. Spectators will loose easily interests in a match when the outcome is pre-determined anyway. Playing at a casino online might be a better option if you want to stay away for a while from sports betting until things are sorted out. Playing some of the online casino games can be a lot of fun as well.
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Watch SportingBet signs with Tottenham

SportingBet signs with Tottenham


The leading online sportsbook and betting operator SportingBet has just signed a 4 year agreement with the English premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. Through the deal SportingBet, which gets most of its revenues from bets made on soccer, will be able to place advertisement inside the stadium and on other marketing material. SportingBet is aiming to increase its popularity internationally and at home in the UK. With Tottenham being a big force in the premier league and this season even playing in the champions league, SportingBet is hoping to built its brand further. While they don’t offer a UK casino as such, they are a huge presence in the online gambling industry.
Many sport betting and gaming operators have sponsored teams and events to promote their brands. And with sport betting and casino games becoming more and more popular all over the world this trend will continue. In France, for instance, casinos en ligne have established a big presents in the advertising world after online gambling has been legalized. No doubt the popularity of casino and sports betting is a trend that is here to stay.
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Watches Biggest Athletics Sponsorship Deal: Bolt Signs Contract with Puma

Biggest Athletics Sponsorship Deal: Bolt Signs Contract with Puma

rand until 2013.
There have been no confirmations about the involved amount but sources close to the player say the amount is worth US$32.5 million, the same amount Chritiano Ronaldo received for his 4-year contract with Nike.
Bolt is already a legend in his sport and the recent deal will take him into a ‘new stratosphere of sports earnings.’ Part of the deal involves launching a new clothing line based on the champion’s signature “To Di World”. The chairman of Puma, Jochen Zeitz said, ‘He’s the best paid athlete in history and also one of the best paid athletes overall.’
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Why Australia must unite behind 2022 FIFA World Cup bid, writes Simon Hill

Why Australia must unite behind 2022 FIFA World Cup bid, writes Simon Hill

On Sunday night, I sat in the stands at the Calabash to watch the World Cup final. Next to me sat a South African couple, full of pride at how their nation had hosted the tournament.

In front, sat two Turks, brandishing their national flag and a Galatasaray scarf. On the next row, lodged in next to each other were two Paraguayans, a Russian, and a Moroccan.

Looking behind me, I could see a man dressed strangely as a Spanish senorita, an oranje-clad Santa Claus, and thousands of other weird concoctions akin to a fancy dress party on New Year's Eve.




“ The AFL and NRL have nothing to fear - their sports will not die - but they must realise they don’t own the country. ”There wasn’t a hint of trouble - even when Netherlands lost a bad-tempered game - and many waved placards to thank the South Africans for the superb job they had done in making everyone feel so welcome. It truly was the rainbow stadium in the rainbow nation.

This isn’t misty-eyed romanticism - these are the cold hard facts of how a World Cup can bring joy to a country.

Here’s a few more.

South Africa welcomed nearly 400,000 visitors during the World Cup - in total, the tournament’s contribution to the nation's GDP was 93 billion rand ($14 billion) - enough to add half a percentage point to its annual growth (estimated to be three per cent this year).

According to the SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry, business confidence also grew to unprecedented levels in the build-up to the World Cup.

The tournament hasn’t solved South Africa’s financial - or social - problems.

But it has helped immeasurably - even the much talked about crime issues were virtually non-existent. Aside of a few isolated incidents (sadly, one involving ten Australian fans), the specially created World Cup courts had only 100 or so cases to deal with. One overseas paper even remarked South Africa’s criminals had performed as poorly as Italy, France and England.



The legacy for South Africa? A clutch of world class stadiums (of which, hopefully only one or two have the potential to become white elephants), and a much-improved infrastructure, including the Gautrain, which gets you from the airport to Sandton in 15 minutes.

But much more than that, it has changed perceptions of the country. Already here, they are talking about building on the “sense of purpose” shown to tackle existing problems.

So, with all that evidence - why is it that some in Australia still fight so hard against our bid to host the finals in 2022?

True, not all people are football fans in Australia - but you don’t have to be to appreciate having a huge sporting event on your doorstep. I doubt many were avid fans of synchronised swimming ahead of the Sydney Olympics, but there wasn’t the outcry Australia’s 'Come Play' bid is generating this time.

Why wouldn’t you want such a boost to the country’s finances and esteem? The FIFA World Cup would be good news for Australia as a whole, not just FFA and football lovers.
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exciting this At least 52 dead in Iraq car bombs: officials

Watch At least 52 dead in Iraq car bombs: officials



AFP – Iraqi troops search cars at a mobile checkpoint in central Baghdad following a series of apparently co-ordinated

BAGHDAD (AFP) – More than a dozen apparently coordinated car bombs targeting Iraqi police and other attacks killed 52 people on Wednesday, just days before the US military officially ends its combat mission here.
The trail of bloodshed started in the capital Baghdad before stretching to the north and south of the country, hitting 10 cities and towns in quick succession in tactics that bore the hallmark of Al-Qaeda.
Some 250 people were also wounded, security officials said, as a total of 14 car bombs wrought havoc for police and soldiers whose ability to protect the country is under close scrutiny as US forces withdraw.
In the worst attack, a car bomb at a passport office in Kut, southeast of Baghdad, killed 20 people, including 15 police, and wounded 90 others, most of them police, Lieutenant Ali Hussein told AFP.
In Baghdad, a suicide car bomber blew up his vehicle at a police station in the northeastern suburb of Qahira, killing 15 people and wounding dozens more, security and medical officials said.
The attack in the mixed Sunni-Shiite neighbourhood took place at around 8 am (0500 GMT), according to an interior ministry official who gave the toll. "The victims include policemen and civilians," he said.
A doctor at Medical City Hospital said they had received the bodies of two women, two children and two police officers, and that 44 other people were receiving treatment.
A spike in unrest over the past two months has triggered concern that Iraqi forces are not yet ready to handle security on their own, and with no new government formed in Baghdad since a March 7 general election.
No one from the Iraqi police or army was available to comment on Wednesday's violence.
The US Army announced on Tuesday that troop levels were below 50,000 in line with President Barack Obama's directives as part of a "responsible drawdown" of troops, seven years on from the invasion which ousted
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Umar Gul winning fulfil fitness race

Watch Umar Gul winning fitness race


Umar Gul appears back to full fitness and will be aiming for a recall © Getty Images
Umar Gul, who suffered a stiff hamstring during the second Test at Edgbaston, has recovered completely from the injury and is likely to be available for selection for the final Test of the England series, which begins on Thursday at Lord's.

"We can't say anything for certain but we are hopeful," Salman Butt, the Pakistan captain said. It was feared that Gul would take no further part in the Test series when he first picked up the injury but Gul, who is Pakistan's most experience fast bowler, has been working hard with Dale Nyler, the team physio, and trainer David Dwyer, to bounce back.

While his team-mates were scripting Pakistan's remarkable victory in the third Test, Gul was on the sidelines where he bowled 'no-effort' balls which involved him charging in from a full run-up and going through the remainder of his action before finishing the sequence without delivering the ball. The exercise was essential to determine if the injury was healing fast.

"So far his recovery has gone as desired," Dwyer said. But both him and Nyler will have a final look on Wednesday morning before giving their final assessment on Gul's fitness to the team management which will sit in the evening to pick the playing eleven.

For the last two days Gul has progressed to bowling flat out without any cause for concern. At the indoor training centre at Lord's he bowled marathon spells of nearly 90 minutes and was happily sharing tips with Wahab Riaz, the man who replaced him in the previous Test.

Gul's recovery is good news for Pakistan, who are spoilt with riches in the bowling department. At The Oval last week, Riaz, the left-handed quick, made a memorable debut by claiming 5 for 63 on the first day to help set up Pakistan's four-wicket victory. Riaz earned further points on the second morning when he offered stubborn resistance with the bat. His 27 logged over a two hours, and he stitched a 34-run partnership with Mohammad Yousuf for the third wicket to rob England of the chance of putting pressure on the Pakistan middle-order.

Gul won't be worried about the competition. At Trent Bridge he top scored with 65 in addition to a match haul of 4 for 102. At Edgbaston he was forced off the field after bowling nine wicketless overs in the first innings but batted with a runner to bolster Pakistan's lead with a 27-run stand with Mohammad Asif for the last wicket.

Gul will have fond memories of playing at Lord's, after performing well there against Australia earlier in the year. He was on the verge of a hat-trick during Australia's second innings and finished the match with five wickets. Waqar Younis, Pakistan's coach, was positive about Gul but remained non-committal about his availability for the final Test: "We will have to see tomorrow and then decide."

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Expect a lot of run Clarke tips big things from Ponting

Watches Clarke tips big things from Ponting

Michael Clarke expects a lot of runs from Ricky Ponting over the next eight months © Getty Images
Michael Clarke believes Ricky Ponting's tendency to fire in the biggest contests will be the spark to overcome a long-term period as a batting mortal. Ponting wants to forget the past year, which included a tenderised elbow courtesy of Kemar Roach, and in his past four series has 681 runs at 40.05, figures inflated by a double-century against Pakistan.

Clarke, the vice-captain, has watched his leader closely in the nets and spots encouraging signs before huge Test series against India and England, and next year's World Cup. "He's a wonderful leader and been an amazing player for such a long time, and he always plays his best cricket in big tournaments," he said. "I know he is excited about the next eight months."

It is not unusual for elite players to ease off in intensity during smaller series, but it was strange for Ponting's standards to slip so much against Pakistan in England (average of 24.5), West Indies (34) and New Zealand (23). The only time he broke free was against Pakistan, with his 209 - he was dropped before he scored - pushing his mean up to 63. Since the 2006-07 Ashes series his overall average has dropped from nudging 60 to 54.66.

Ponting, 35, insists he has more to show. "Last year for me Test-wise is one of those years where I look back and almost write it off," he said. "I think I got run out three times, got caught at bat-pad three times. I am working as hard as I have ever worked, if I am averaging 54 now I have to push that up again, up to a level I know I am capable of playing at. That's the great challenge for me."

Since Roach roughed up Ponting at the WACA, bowlers around the world have sensed an opportunity with short balls. "They have probably changed the way they bowl at me as a result of the start of last summer in Australia," he said. "I am probably getting more short bowling than I used to get as a result of getting hit on the elbow."

He has no plans to move from No.3 and said it was nothing to do with ego. "I feel when I am playing well that I am the best person for that role," he said. "I will work hard, try and take my chances and be the player I want to be."

After Ponting comes Clarke, following his switching of spots with Michael Hussey for the Pakistan series. Now 29, Clarke said his position in the line-up isn't important, but the move is significant as it puts him closer to the No.3 role that he needs to star in if he is to become one of the game's best.

"When I was younger where I batted was probably more important to me but now it doesn't bother me," he said. "It's about whatever Ricky thinks and best suits the team ... I am not really stressed about it. I am pretty carefree about wherever I bat and I am going to play the way I want to play, I am going to try and be as successful as I can."

During Ponting's tough times Clarke said he has been available to take on extra duties. International captains, even those in charge of only two formats, can be over-loaded easily, stealing concentration from their batting.

Clarke is starting to know what that is like with extra glare on his Twenty20 strike-rate when he is in charge of that team. "I make it very clear to [Ponting] that anything he needs I am there for him 24-7," he said. "Anything he needs off the field, on the field, I will be there for him."

Peter English is the Australasia editor of Cricinfo

Feeds: Peter English
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
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Enjoy India out for 223 in must-win game

India out for 223 in must-win game


It appeared as though Virender Sehwag was batting on a different pitch

New Zealand gave themselves a shot at qualifying for the tri-series final by restricting a wobbly India to 223. An overwhelming percentage of the total once again came from Virender Sehwag, as the lack of contributions from his colleagues continued in India's inconsistent batting displays through the series. Sehwag's whirlwind century formed the mainstay of a 107-run stand with MS Dhoni and gave India some amount of control, but his dismissal in the 33rd over heralded a quick end to the innings.

Credit should go to the way New Zealand's varied attack made India struggle in conditions that didn't suit trigger-happy batsmen. The fresh pitch had bounce, nip and a bit of seam movement early on and the majority of the Indian batsmen lacked the temperament to last 50 overs in testing conditions.

It appeared as though Sehwag was batting on a different pitch. He was unfazed by the early movement and nip off the wicket, which made the seamers look potent. Dinesh Karthik and Virat Kohli were out poking at deliveries outside off stump, while Yuvraj Singh was hurried by the pace and bounce of Andy McKay. When Suresh Raina was out pulling Tim Southee while trying to force the pace, India had lost four wickets by the end of 13 overs. Those wickets took the sheen away from a fluid and entertaining start from Sehwag.

Not known for exaggerated foot movements, Sehwag used the crease to loft the seamers over the off side, through the line of the ball. He barely moved across the stumps but such was his confidence that he managed to stretch, scoop and slash powerfully over backward point. He backed away and slapped the slower bowlers past the infield as well. A more conventional punch through cover brought up his 1000th ODI four and that was part of a sequence of three consecutive fours off Southee.

India were lucky to have Dhoni at the other end for he rotated strike and built a solid partnership. Their stand produced a valuable 107, but India needed them to stay longer as they were the last capable pair, with only Ravindra Jadeja, who is still trying to find his feet in ODIs, and a long tail to follow. Sehwag didn't drop anchor, though. He continued charging the spinners, lifting Kane Williamson inside-out over extra cover for boundaries and also cleverly picking the gaps at fine leg off the seamers. He played the upper cut over the vacant slip cordon shortly after getting to his century, but the fun ended for India when Sehwag found deep midwicket when on 110, his dismissal coming against the run of play.

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Excited this Amir vaults into career-best 17th position

Amir vaults into career-best 17th position

rankings, which puts him just behind Paul Harris of South Africa and makes him the third Pakistan fast bowler in the top 20.

Four-wicket defeat means England cannot go ahead of Australia in Test Championship at the end of this series

Pakistan's fast bowler Mohammad Amir has rocketed into his career-best 17th position in the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers after playing a leading role in his side's four-wicket victory over England in The Oval Test which concluded on Saturday.

Man of the match Amir took 1-49 and 5-52 in the Test and was awarded with a jump of 14 places in the rankings, which puts him just behind Paul Harris of South Africa and makes him the third Pakistan fast bowler in the top 20.

Amir has played a total of 13 Tests in which he has taken 45 wickets. As such, he is still in the qualification period for bowlers as a bowler qualifies for a full rating when he reaches 100 Test wickets.

This means he could potentially edge closer or even overtake 14th-ranked Jerome Taylor of the West Indies depending on how he performs in the fourth and last Test, which starts at Lord's from Thursday. Amir now trails Taylor by six ratings points after earning 91 ratings points from The Oval Test.

Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, who took 4-71 in the second innings after bagging 1-32 in the first, has also jumped nine places to claim a career-best 48th position while Wahab Riaz, who took 5-63 and 1-40 on his debut Test, has entered in 60th position.

For England, off-spinner Graeme Swann has moved up one place to regain his second position on the bowling chart.

Swann, who had match figures of 7-118, had first climbed to second position in March this year after the first Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong. Swann, who took his 100th Test wicket in the first innings when he caught Yousuf off his own bowling, earned 24 ratings points that has put him on a career-high 820 ratings points.

However, there is bad news for the England pace trio which has slipped in the latest rankings which were released on Sunday morning.

James Anderson has fallen one place to fifth position, Stuart Broad has dropped three places to 11th spot and Steven Finn has slipped three places to 35th position.

In the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen, Pakistan's Mohammad Yousuf, Umar Akmal and Azhar Ali, and England's Alastair Cook and Matt Prior all rose up the rankings.

Yousuf, who scored 56 and 33, has climbed two places to 14th position with India's Gautam Gambhir firmly within his sights, Umar has jumped six places to share 41st position with Australia's Phillip Hughes and Azhar has vaulted 28 places to 55th spot.

coppied by http://icc-cricket.yahoo.net/newsdetails.php?newsId=11204_1282464300

Umpires will create Bowden and Hill set to make history

Bowden and Hill set to make history
ICC Media ReleaseTue, Aug 24, 2010 3:18 PM




Billy Bowden and Tony Hill of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires will create history on Thursday by becoming the first neutral umpires from the same country to officiate together in a Test match at Lord's.

New Zealanders Bowden and Hill will take charge of the fourth and final Test match between England and Pakistan at the Lord's Cricket Ground.

Bowden, who will be standing in his 62nd Test match, said: ?To umpire with my fellow New Zealander Tony Hill for the first-time ever in a Test match will be special.

"To be at Lord's and to create a little piece of history by being the first two neutral umpires from the same country to umpire there makes it super special. Yes, it will be a proud moment for us, our families, New Zealand Cricket and to all our fellow umpires in New Zealand.

"We will be proud Kiwis for sure as we walk out to the middle together. It is a testimony to the umpiring structure that has been put in place in New Zealand and I trust in a small way it will inspire future generations of Test umpires from New Zealand."

Tony Hill, who like Bowden hails from Auckland, added: "To say I am looking forward to the Lord's Test is an understatement.

"Although I have already stood there for a couple of shorter version games, to get to stand in a Test there is brilliant. To have a Kiwi at the other end is a bonus and the full impact of the occasion probably won't sink in for a while yet."

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playing this India have the experience to bounce back: Taylor

Watch India have the experience to bounce back: Taylor


ndia might be in woeful form right now but New Zealand captain Ross Taylor says the recent poor run would make Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men all the more dangerous when the two sides clash in a do-or-die encounter of the ODI cricket tri-series on Wednesday.

"I think it almost makes them dangerous, they didn't play that well against us in the first game, and then they came back and played well against Sri Lanka, obviously they didn't play as well as they would have liked to play against Sri Lanka in the last match, that makes them dangerous," Taylor said.

"I would not read too much on the Indian side. They are a good batting unit. They have played a lot of cricket. I am sure with their experience they will come firmer and we just need to put pressure on them," he added.

India have been handed a couple of embarrassing defeats in the ongoing tri-series and would be out if they lose tomorrow. Dhoni's men lost by 200 runs to New Zealand in the lung-opener before being reduced to 103 and then thrashed by eight wickets by Sri Lanka.

But Taylor said every side goes through such phases and New Zealand cannot afford to take the Indians lightly. "Obviously they didn't play that well against us in the first game and then they came back and played very well against Sri Lanka. Obviously they did not play as well as they would have liked against Sri Lanka in the last match. I think we cannot really think about that too much and just got to work ourselves," he said.

"I think a lot of the batsmen in their side probably have not scored as many runs as they would have liked. But they have scored runs in the past or in the warm up game. So it is not all doom and gloom for them," he added. On whether India's pathetic batting form would work to New Zealand's advantage tomorrow, Taylor said Dhoni and Co are not the only ones struggling in the seaming conditions here.

"I think every top order has struggled not just India. We (also) struggled at the top and Sri Lanka had their troubles as well. It has done lot of things. I guess their batting is under pressure but I would say even we were under a bit of pressure," he explained.

Taylor said his bowlers would continue to pitch it up against the Indians, who are known to be susceptible to the rising ball. "I guess we would have to wait and see how the pitch is like and see how the bounce is. I think it is a fresh wicket. And most of the wickets that we played on turned a lot than we expected and then bounced a lot," he said.

"But since our boys are tall and get a little extra bounce than most. So if it does bounce then we will have to wait and see. If it doesn't bounce to the knee height then we should pitch it up," he added.

Taylor said his inexperienced side has not done too badly considering it was without proven performers such as Daniel Vettori, Jesse Ryder and Bredon McCullum. "Probably when we came in we did not have a experienced side. That was part of the deal that we wanted to give other guys experience and also to come here, win and play well."

"Scott (Styris) and I scored runs. But we only scored runs once. It is going to be 12 days since we have actually had a bat. Obviously played Sri Lanka and it rained for two days. We did not get to bat. It is going to be a little more anxiety probably more the fact that we have not had a bat for 12 days than the actual game itself," he said.

On the status of side's fitness, Taylor said Kane Williamson has a bicep niggle and would be observed more before a final decision is reached. "(Martin) Guptill is fit and raring to go. Kane Williamson has got a bit of bicep injury and he will be under observation. He did not bowl or throw yesterday. We will have to wait and see how it goes. And if he gets through that, we will just have to wait and see on selection," he said.

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