The Indian Premier League has advised its eight franchisees to avoid brand conflicts “as far as possible” while using top players on their rolls for team endorsements.The IPL rules specify that each player will have to give ten days to the franchise for team endorsements, which should involve a minimum of three players from the team. But the franchises were reminded by IPL officials at a meeting in Mumbai today to avoid any potential legal hurdles by opting for a safer route.”Why get into those legal hassles, was the common line at the meeting,” a franchise representative who was present at the meeting said. “There is scope for conflict. For instance, we can insist that a top player, who has a personal endorsement with a particular brand, endorse the team which may be associated with a rival brand. And if the player pulls out, he will even have to face a cut in the fee he gets from the team. But we will try to avoid all that.”All the top Indian players have hefty endorsement deals with corporate majors like Pepsi and Reebok while the Australians have global team sponsors like Emirates and Foster’s to deal with.”It’s just the first year and everybody is trying to figure out where things stand, so there will be a spirit of accommodation,” an Indian cricketer, who is part of the IPL, said.The IPL officials, including Lalit Modi, its commissioner, also briefed franchise representatives on the rules governing the marketing and branding opportunities available for the tournament.
Justin Langer has decided to play on for Western Australia next season in an attempt to lead the Warriors to their first Pura Cup title since 1998-99. And if Langer has his way, the man who captained that successful team eight years ago, Tom Moody, will be back in Perth as coach.Speaking at Western Australia’s awards night on Monday, Langer said his international goals had been achieved but he had unfinished business at state level. “One of the great highlights of my career was winning that first Sheffield Shield [in 1992],” Langer told .”When I stood here this time last year I had a burning desire to win back the Ashes with my mates, and for a long time the Australian cricket team have been my mates. I have felt in the last six months, I have started to develop some really good friendships, some mates, with the West Australian guys. And I have still got a burning ambition to win the Pura Cup back, so there’s your announcement.”Langer, 36, is scheduled to play county cricket for Somerset this season. He hopes by the time he returns to Western Australia after winter, his old mate Moody will have replaced Wayne Clark, who announced his retirement as coach in January.”I’m still fit, I am still enjoying the game … hopefully Tom Moody will be coach, and if that is the case that would be an added bonus,” Langer said. “I am sure if Tom wants the job he is a walk up start. We are all hopeful we see him coming through the arrivals gate at Perth airport in a month or so.”Langer said captaining the side was not a condition of him staying on as a player, but it was something he was keen to continue. “I’d like to think my experience, working in conjunction with someone like Tom, would be a great leadership group for WA cricket,” he said.
Virender Sehwag blamed a collective lack of application from the Indian top order for the five-wicket defeat against England at Jamshedpur. “We didn’t bat well at all,” he said at the post-match press conference. “If even one of the top-order batsmen had been associated in a significant partnership with Dhoni at the start of the innings, it could have been an exciting game. The main reason for today’s defeat was our batting failure. There was responsibility on every single top-order batsman. You can’t criticise any single individual – if either of Yuvraj, Kaif, Raina, Venu [Venugopal Rao] or Sehwag had played for any length of time with Dhoni, things would have been a lot different.”While insisting that his team should have put more runs on the board Sehwag gave England’s batsmen credit for the manner in which they went about chasing the modest target. “They played quite well,” he said. “227 wasn’t that bad a total, but Strauss and Bell got them off to an excellent start, and they didn’t look back after that.”Inevitably questions were asked about the lack of form of Sehwag himself, and also Mohammad Kaif. “When the team is winning, you can afford to have one or two batsmen not in form because captains don’t usually change a winning combination,” said Sehwag. “At the end of the day, it all depends on the situation. Maybe it is best for me that I sit out a game, take a break. When you keep playing, it may not be possible to analyse things. Sometimes, rest is an option. Perhaps I will miss the next match, perhaps Kaif will. Rahul will be back as captain for the last match, it is up to him to decide what combination he wants to field.”Sehwag also came to the defence of his fast-bowlers, backing them to do well in the future. “There was a lack of experience in our bowling attack today. We were playing without Pathan, Agarkar and Sreesanth. RP Singh, VRV Singh and Munaf Patel don’t have a lot of experience, so they couldn’t deliver. I am sure if they play more regularly and pick up more experience along the way, they will definitely deliver the goods.”He was especially sympathetic to VRV Singh, who made his debut in this match but could not pick up a wicket and ended returns of none for 33 from five overs. “It is not easy to perform in your first international match. I remember when I made my debut, I only made one run. It is tough to perform on debut, you need to be lucky to be successful in your first match. Maybe VRV felt a little bit of pressure, maybe he was nervous. But he is a good bowler, and I am sure he will bounce back in time.”
With the innings floundering like a paper boat in a storm, Rahul Dravid had looked a class apart, caressing some magnificent drives and showing a composure beyond his team-mates. As long as he remained, so did a chimera of victory. But Mohammad Sami, who had earlier knocked over Sachin Tendulkar to take his 100th ODI wicket, had different ideas. On a pitch that remained an absolute belter, Sami produced a snorter of the highest quality, a delivery that reared up at Dravid’s bat handle from just short of a length. Younis Khan made good ground to hold on to the lobbed chance, and Pakistan could smile, secure in the knowledge that the match had been signed, sealed and delivered.Dhoni’s brief crackerBy the time Mahendra Singh Dhoni walked out to bat, the effervescence had already started to depart the stands, with Virender Sehwag trudging back to the pavilion early. By the time he got his eye in, the lull was even more pronounced – Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly swelling their series tally to just 25. But the chants of “Dhoni, Dhoni” must have had some effect on cricket’s answer to glam-rock, and some meaty drives, biffs and edges quickly had the run-rate humming along at close to what was required. Against the skiddy accuracy of Rana Naved-ul-Hasan though, such belligerence was fraught with risk, and when Dhoni tried to pull a delivery that hastened on to him, the top-edge carried only as far as Kamran Akmal behind the stumps. Suddenly, the supposed medium-pace trundler who had replaced the self-proclaimed king of fast bowlers, had three wickets, leaving India well and truly rolled over in this steel city.
The State Canterbury Wizards’ side for the opening State Championship match against the State Otago Volts in Timaru, starting on Monday, has a well-seasoned look to it.The side will be led by international Craig McMillan, who was unavailable for the Black Caps’ tour of Pakistan. Unfortunately, injury to Shane Bond and Wade Cornelius has taken some of the teeth from the potential attack, while Nathan Astle, is still not ready to play. But with Chris Martin and Warren Wisneski having made international appearances there is still a solid core to the new ball attack. Also selected are Brendon Donkers and Stephen Cunis.They will be supplemented by Paul Wiseman, the Test off-spinner and Aaron Redmond, the leg-spinner. However, injury to Redmond this week will mean that David Kelly will travel to Timaru as cover for Redmond in case he has not recovered as quickly as hoped for the match.Canterbury’s newer brigade of batsmen are also represented in the side with Shanan Stewart, Michael Papps, Peter Fulton and Neil Broom included. McMillan and Gary Stead will provide a necessary rod of experience in the batting order.The full team is: Craig McMillan (capt), Neil Broom, Steven Cunis, Brendon Donkers, Peter Fulton, Chris Martin, Michael Papps, Aaron Redmond, Gary Stead, Shanan Stewart, Paul Wiseman, Warren Wisneski.Unavailable along with Bond, Astle and Cornelius were Chris Cairns, Chris Harris and Brendon McCullum.
Though this may have been Australia’s national day, New Zealanders’ cricketers were again the ones with cause for celebration as another enchanting victory came their way in the VB Series today. This one – registered by the margin of 77 runs over an again-disappointing Australia – was a tribute to disciplined batting and excellent pace bowling in front of a large crowd in Adelaide.While some will tell you that 26 January – the date that marks the anniversary of the beginning of white settlement in Australia – is a time for paintingthe town red; enjoying very little shut-eye; and letting one’s hair down, the New Zealanders blessed the occasion with another excellentbusiness-as-usual performance. Instead of heading to a hardware store; an optometrist; or a hairdresser, they came to the Adelaide Oval with theirsleeves rolled up and a thirst for hard work on a warm and humid day.Returning to the New Zealand team upon his recovery from a wrist injury, Nathan Astle (95) led the way with the bat, lifting his team toward a totalof 5/242 before he tired amid sapping Adelaide heat to fall five runs short of a 12th one-day international century.Lou Vincent (55) was also impressive and the big-hitting Chris Cairns (39*) inspired a breezy finish, even if the Black Caps did not capitalise aswell as they might have done on an outstanding mid-innings position.Man of the match Shane Bond (5/25), bowling with electric pace, then all but settled the fate of the contest as he snared three wickets in the spaceof 17 deliveries to leave Australia in peril at 4/26.Michael Bevan (45) and Steve Waugh (30) launched a fightback but received little support as the tourists attained a bonus point and an invaluableeight point lead at the head of the competition standings.The Australians’ problems stemmed chiefly from their inability to restrain Astle and Vincent in a 128-run partnership for New Zealand’s secondwicket through the early stages of the afternoon.Vincent, with his score at 23, benefited from an exceptionally tight call in his favour after third umpire Daryl Harper had analysed a series of replaysof the completion of a desperate single to Steve Waugh at mid on. Astle, who ultimately passed Martin Crowe to become New Zealand’s all-timeleading runscorer in one-day internationals, also dodged a bullet at 33 as he survived a vociferous caught behind appeal off the bowling of ShaneWarne (1/33).Otherwise, the pair played largely without perturbation – not even in the face of excellent bowling from the trio of Warne, Glenn McGrath (2/36)and Jason Gillespie (1/40).In keeping with the pattern of its battles against its trans-Tasman rival in this series, the home team’s run chase was compromised by its inability toassemble a truly threatening partnership. Openings continued to be created by accurate and patient bowling, outstanding field settings, and were thensealed by poor strokeplay.Bond keenly and skillfully exploited the desire of Ricky Ponting (0) to lash forcefully at an outswinger; blocked a busy run-scoring avenue forDamien Martyn (2) through point and encouraged him to drive a catch there instead; and then conquered the defences of Adam Gilchrist (21) with aferocious inswinging yorker that has genuine claims on being the best delivery of the international summer.He later escorted the last patrons from the dance floor when he tilted back the off stump of Gillespie (15) and found the top edge of the bat of AndyBichel (7) as he attempted to hook. His final figures, well-deserved ones at that, represented the third-best by a bowler in New Zealand one-dayinternational history.Given that Dion Nash (1/31) had also encouraged the out-of-sorts Mark Waugh (0) to play back to him off a leading edge; Chris Harris (2/35)lured Bevan and Andrew Symonds (11) into meekly spooning high catches down the ground; and Daniel Vettori (1/44) forced Steve Waugh toedge a superb delivery to slip, things ran the Black Caps’ way for virtually the entirety of the evening session.It was not so much the gate-crashing of a party by the end.Rather, it was all but the closing of the door on any idea that the New Zealanders will not feature in the finals of this tournament.
The highly famed battery of Pakistan’s speedsters and spinners having failed to dislodge the Sri Lanka opening pair of Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu commenced their efforts again.Sri Lanka resumed the innings at the overnight score of 140 for no loss. In 60 overs they were 156 for no loss with Jayasuriya (95) anxiously waiting for his first century after the assumption of captaincy and Atapattu (51) well dug at the crease. There came the moment of rejoicing for Jayasuriya when he hoisted his splendid ton by smashing Waqar Younis through gully for a four. This was his 6th test century of the career.Continuing to play freely and piling up runs, the two players brought 200 of the innings in 73 overs. While the Pakistani fielders dropped catches, the batsmen were gaining strength after every over. After playing a flurry of impressive strokes Atapattu also hoisted his 100 in 235 balls. At lunch Sri Lanka was 267 for no loss. Jayasuriya (148) and Atapattu (107) were almost in command of the game.Jayasuriya’s 150 came immediately after lunch while the glorious triple century (300) of the Sri Lanka innings came in 107 overs. Jayasuriya (172) and Atapattu (116) were giving a befitting reply to Pakistan’s big innings of 600 at Galle. The partnership between the two players became 7th in the ladder of over 300 runs partnership in the history of cricket.Pakistan took the new ball and entrusted its use to Abdur Razzaq and Waqar Younis. A quick result was achieved when Pakistan got the break-through that they were aspiring for. Unlucky for Sri Lanka, skipper Jayasuriya who was hero of Sri Lanka’s innings was out before completing his well-cherished double ton. He was out after scoring a marvelous innings of 188 when he edged a moving ball form Razzaq into the hands of Younis Khan fielding in the slips. Sri Lanka thus lost its 1st but the most precious wicket at 335.Russel Arnold who came in to bat held the ground and scored runs as confidently as his senior partner. He was out after contributing 24 runs. The next man Aravinda de Silva followed in his footsteps quickly rendering Sri Lanka to 402 for 3. A little later Jayawardene returned to the pavilion having been clean bowled by Arshad Khan. Sri Lanka was now 412 for 4.Though Sri Lanka had played marvelously piling up a score of over 400, the wickets had started falling. Pakistan picked up 3 wicket within a span of 4 overs.Since the pitch started giving little extra spin, the bowlers were now extracting some life out of it. Ranatunga was the next to go. In an attempt to sweep Arshad Khan, he was caught by Mushtaq Ahmed. Sri Lanka lost the 5th wicket at 434.The day’s play ended with Sri Lanka at 449 for 5. Atapattu playing the hero’s role remained not out with 199.Though Sri Lanka deserves the credit for piling up a huge total and still remaining in the game, one cannot pardon Pakistan for dropping atleast half a dozen vital catches.
Andrew Dickson has now given his reaction to the news that Erling Haaland has not travelled with Borussia Dortmund for their game at Glasgow Rangers.
The Lowdown: Still missing
Haaland has been missing for Dortmund for just over a month now with muscular problems, and so missed the first leg of their match against the Ibrox faithful, to which the latter won 4-2 (Transfermarkt).
It is clear how key he is to the Bundesliga team, having averaged more than a goal a game in all competitions so far this season, and with a two-goal deficit, Dortmund could have done with his firepower in the second leg on Thursday night.
The Latest: Dickson reacts
Taking to Twitter, journalist Dickson has since reacted to the fact that Haaland is not with the Dortmund squad once more as they prepare to face the Teddy Bears:
“Good news for Rangers fans, Erling Haaland has not travelled to Glasgow with Borussia Dortmund for tomorrow’s Europa League tie at Ibrox…”
The Verdict: Another boost
After Leon Balogun revealed in the pre-game press conference earlier this afternoon that he is back fit and available for the match, having him back and not having to face Haaland will come as a welcome boost.
The Norway international’s numbers speak for themselves, and the fact that Dortmund only managed a mere three shots on target from 13 in the reverse fixture implies that they are not as clinical without him.
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Nonetheless, Giovanni van Bronckhorst should now be more confident than ever that his side can get through the second leg and make further progress in the UEFA Europa League.
In other news, find out what Gers concern this Sky Sports pundit has raised amid a club reveal here!
James Bruce has announced his retirement from professional cricket to pursue a career in the City.Bruce represented Eton and Durham UCCE before signing for Hampshire as a fast-medium seamer in 2003. He was a member of the side that won the C&G Trophy in 2005 and enjoyed his most successful summers in 2006 and 2007, taking 38 and 39 wickets. He was awarded his county cap in 2006.”The decision to retire has been a decision that I have not made lightly,” said Bruce. “I’ve been gaining work experience in the City over the last three winters with the intention of developing a career for when I had finished playing. Whilst initially I didn’t know when that might be, I was always conscious of the importance of preparing for life after cricket.”The recent work that I have done this winter has made me realise that the transition from sport into the working world is not as easy a process as I originally thought. I have thoroughly enjoyed the work I have been doing and became aware that the longer I left this transition the harder it would be for me to secure a career in exactly what I wanted to do.””Over the last few years Brucey has put an enormous amount of work into getting his body and mind into a position where he has proved a formidable opponent for opposition batters,” Paul Terry, Hampshire’s coach, said. “It’s not an exaggeration to say, in the right conditions, he has become one of the better English-born bowlers. Having witnessed the work he put into his fitness in Perth in the early years, it always gave me a sense of pride to see how well his career had developed – a sentiment shared, no doubt, by all those who have helped him along the way.”In 49 first-class matches, Bruce took 124 wickets at 34.07. In 31 one-day outings his 44 wickets cost 22.18. he had few pretensions as a batsman and his 243 runs came at an average of 7.14.
Elton Chigumbura has admitted that emulating allrounders like Chris Cairns and Andrew Flintoff doesn’t pay off in a struggling side like Zimbabwe. “I have always been a naturally aggressive player, though I have often been inhibited by a bad team situation,” he told AFP. “But I try not to be just a slogger. I use technique instead to get the ball back mainly over the bowler or the off-side field.Chigumbura has a reputation of being a big hitter – in his last ODI, against Bangladesh at Harare, Chigumbura cracked seven sixes – but realised the need to curb his enthusiasm a while ago. “I used to just lash out, but I have now learned that it doesn’t pay. I would get out early too often and that was bad for the team, especially as I usually bat a bit lower down.”Chigumbura – whose name in his local language means one who can be hurt but never complains – hoped a strong performance at the World Cup will help him secure a county cricket deal in England. “But I would always want to be available for Zimbabwe. I also want to develop into a good allrounder.There’s no doubt that we are underdogs in the West Indies but that could actually work to our advantage. I really hope that we can through the early rounds, mainly for the team but also because I might get the chance to take on the Aussies again.”Zimbabwe are in Group D in the World Cup, with hosts West Indies, Pakistan and Ireland. They kick off their campaign against Ireland on March 15 at Sabina Park in Jamaica.