Written on 11:20 AM by Rahul Mathur
India needed a record score to win but instead Australia edged closer to a milestone of their own, posting their 15th consecutive Test victory as they wrapped up the Boxing Day Test within four days. Australia will now head into the Sydney Test that starts on Wednesday aiming to equal their own record of 16 straight Test wins and they will no doubt fancy their chances after India folded for 161 and crashed to a 337-run defeat at the MCG.
An extra day's rest will also be much appreciated by Australia's fast bowlers, who toiled hard in searing heat against a stonewalling India. Not only did India forget how to fight, they were outplayed in subcontinent-like conditions as Melbourne's temperature nudged 40 degrees. Ricky Ponting rotated his attack and they showed few signs of exhaustion with Mitchell Johnson picking up 3 for 21 and Brett Lee and Brad Hogg each grabbing two.
India, on the other hand, struggled in the conditions. Sourav Ganguly, who was the second-last man out when he departed for 40, had been at the crease for just over an hour when he slumped on the ground after running a two. He needed attention from the team physio and batted on in the sweltering conditions, but his team-mates kept falling around him.
The end came quickly for India, who had five wickets in hand at tea but survived barely an hour after the break. MS Dhoni attempted a lavish cover-drive against Johnson and edged behind to Adam Gilchrist, who finished with eight dismissals for the match and not only passed Ian Healy's Australian Test wicketkeeping record of 395 victims but also earned $144,000 for Glenn McGrath's cancer charity - he wore pink gloves and his sponsors offered $18,000 per dismissal.
Once the established batsmen were gone and Australia could sniff a day off it all became rather a procession. Anil Kumble edged a Johnson leg-cutter behind to Gilchrist, Harbhajan Singh was run out without facing a ball and Ganguly prodded Hogg to silly mid-off. By that stage the result was no longer in doubt and perhaps India were not upset to also enjoy a free Sunday, as Johnson finished the carnage by bowling RP Singh for 2.
The finale was flatter than last season's new-year champagne after India promised so much fizz with their bowling efforts on the first day. Back then it looked like Australia might be seriously challenged for the first time in a home Test since India last visited, in 2003-04. But that spark was gradually extinguished over the next three days and India's batsmen must find some way to reverse their fortunes before the Sydney Test.
Theirs is a batting line-up full of stars but none of them shone as they chased a whopping 499 for victory. Ganguly was at least willing to attack, as was Sachin Tendulkar, but no batsman reached a half-century in their second innings. Yuvraj Singh's place might not be certain after India rejigged their batting order to retain him at No. 6. He departed for 5 shortly before tea, missing a straighter ball from Hogg that would have crashed into his stumps. Yuvraj was cleared of showing dissent at an umpire's decision in the first innings and again he waited a few moments before trudging off after Mark Benson's lbw decision.
He did not score in the first innings and should India ditch him for Sydney it might allow Virender Sehwag to open and Rahul Dravid to drop down from the unfamiliar opening position. Dravid was painfully slow in the first innings and in the second he had 16 from 114 balls when he fell lbw just before lunch, playing back to Andrew Symonds, who had just reverted from medium pace to offspin.
That defensive mindset was also present in his partner Wasim Jaffer, who was on 15 when he edged behind off Lee to give Gilchrist his record-breaking 396th dismissal. The breakthrough was a relief for Lee, who three balls earlier had experienced the same sinking feeling that Johnson and Zaheer Khan had suffered earlier in the match when he thought he had a wicket only to see Billy Bowden's no-ball signal. Lee dug in a short one that Jaffer appeared to glove through to Gilchrist but Bowden's decision, which again was correct, stifled the appeal.
After Jaffer and Dravid departed India were ticking along nicely as VVS Laxman, Tendulkar and Ganguly played some impressive strokes but none could build a match-saving partnership. Tendulkar looked terrific when he went down on one knee to square-drive Lee through point for four but he was then out-thought by Lee, who followed a quick bouncer with a good ball outside off stump that was too full to cut, luring Tendulkar into the shot which he edged behind.
Laxman had calmly worked his way to 42 when he succumbed to the frustration of Stuart Clark's tight bowling. Clark was following the team plan of suffocating India's scoring and had 0 for 15 in his 12th over when Laxman drove on the up straight to Michael Clarke at cover and Laxman was clearly annoyed by his lapse in concentration. He had been watchful in his 112-ball innings but was quickly onto any bad balls from Hogg, who dropped short more often than he would like. Laxman pulled a pair of Hogg deliveries through midwicket for boundaries and was also impressive with his straight drives.
While there were moments of satisfaction for India their overall experience, after the first day, was disheartening. When Steve Waugh's Australians set their record 16-match winning streak it was India who ended the successful run. They have three days before the Sydney Test to work out how they can prevent Ponting's men from equalling that record.
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Written on 2:38 AM by Rahul Mathur
Over the past few weeks, Finlay has neglected his personal well-being to protect Hornswoggle from the clutches of The Great Khali. At Armageddon, however, the illegitimate son of Mr. McMahon finally repaid the favor, helping the Irishman slay the Punjabi giant, and earning one of the, literally, biggest wins of his career.
In consecutive weeks on SmackDown, the brawler from Belfast felt the wrath of Khali leading up to their Armageddon clash, each time sacrificing himself to shield Hornswoggle from harm. Many had wondered if the leprechaun was the weakness in Finlay’s brutal in-ring arsenal. But at Armageddon, Hornswoggle proved his worth in gold by giving the Irishman the opening he needed to take down The Great Khali. With referee Charles Robinson’s back turned, Finlay’s pint-sized partner entered the ring and delivered a very low blow with the shillelagh, allowing the Irishman to nail Khali’s skull with the club and seal the win.
The age-old maxim “the bigger they are, the harder they fall” rang true for the Irish at Armageddon Sunday night. But will this victory put some distance between Finlay and The Great Khali, or will the Punjabi giant continue to stalk Hornswoggle despite the Irishman’s best protective efforts?.....
While these are the results of the other matches of Armageddon were -
- Edge wins Triple Threat Match for the World Heavyweight Championship (New Champion)
- Chris Jericho def. WWE Champion Randy Orton (Disqualification)
- Jeff Hardy def. Triple H
- Shawn Michaels def. Mr. Kennedy
- Big Daddy V & Mark Henry def. ECW Champion CM Punk & KaneRey
- Mysterio def. U.S. Champion MVP (Count-out; MVP retains)
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Written on 2:18 AM by Rahul Mathur
AC Milan superstar Kaka has been crowned as FIFA's World Player of the Year, beating off competition from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Kaka has had a glittering year for AC Milan, during which they won the Champions League, and has won the Ballon d'Or award for the European footballer of the year, FIFPro's world player of the year voted by fellow professionals and World Soccer's player of the year.
Argentina forward Messi came second, and Portuguese winger Ronaldo was in third place.
Kaka said at the awards ceremony at Zurich's Opera House: "Tonight is a really special night for me - it was a dream for me just to play for Sao Paulo and one game for Brazil. But the Bible says God can give you more than you even ask for."
Ronaldo, 22, said he was hugely honoured to be short-listed for the award - which has never been won by a Premier League player.
AC Milan beat Boca Juniors 4-2 to become the first European winners of the FIFA Club World Cup. A double from Filippo Inzaghi and goals from Alessandro Nesta and Kaka earned the Italians a deserved victory at the International Stadium in Yokohama, where a sell-out crowd was treated to a fitting climax to a thrilling tournament.
It took Carlo Ancelotti's side 21 minutes to make the breakthrough. Kaka drove at the Boca defence and after his shot was blocked, he instinctively and superbly drove the ball into the path of Inzaghi, who did not require a second invitation to slot the ball home from six yards. From the restart, though, Boca quickly moved the ball up the other end and Rodrigo Palacio nodded home to level the scores.
Play resumed at a frenetic pace following the interval and within five minutes, Nesta's stunning volley restored Milan's advantage. A couple of menacing runs from the lively Kaka threatened to add to their lead, while only the post denied Hugo Ibarra a superb, long-range equaliser.
With Kaka in inspirational form, though, Milan began to dominate proceedings and it was the Brazilian who made it 3-1 just after the hour mark, slotting through the goalkeeper's legs from a tight angle after a purposeful charge down the left flank. The 25-year-old, a candidate to win the FIFA World Player of the Year award at tomorrow's Gala, then supplied a second goal for Inzaghi in the 71st minute.
Pablo Ledesma reduced the deficit with time running out, but the day belonged to AC Milan, who succeeded where the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester United (both 2000), Liverpool (2005) and Barcelona (2006) had failed.
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Written on 2:15 AM by Rahul Mathur
The Football Association have confirmed that Fabio Capello will succeed Steve McClaren as England manager.
CAPELLO'S BACKROOM STAFF
• Franco Baldini
Former Roma sporting director Baldini is likely to be appointed as assistant manager but will occupy a position similar to that of Tord Grip under Sven-Goran Eriksson in a hands-off, advisory role.
• Italo Galbiati
Galbiati is expected to fill a role next to Capello in the Wembley dug-out, operating in a motivational and coaching role more similar to that of - dare we say it - Steve McClaren under Eriksson.
• Massimo Neri
Fitness trainer at Juventus and Real Madrid during Capello's spells and an integral member of the team due to the manager's reliance on physical strength and speed.
• Franco Tancredi
Goalkeeping coach and Roma legend from his days between the sticks who represented Italy at the 1986 World Cup and has been with `Don Fabio' throughout nearly all of his managerial career.
The news was revealed 48 hours after Capello agreed in principle to lead the Three Lions, with the decision being ratified by the FA Board yesterday.
Final negotiations between the FA and Capello's advisors have now been completed and the former Juventus, AC Milan and Real Madrid coach has signed a four-and-a-half year contract and will begin work on January 7.
'I am delighted that Fabio Capello has agreed to become England manager,' said FA chief executive Brian Barwick.
'When we set out to recruit the new manager, we said we were committed to appointing a world-class candidate. In Fabio Capello we have that man.
'Fabio is a winner. His record over the last two decades speaks for itself.
'At every club he has managed Fabio has won the league title and Sir Trevor Brooking and I were left in no doubt of his passion and commitment to bring that success to the England team.'
Capello will officially be unveiled in central London on Monday, just under four weeks after McClaren was sacked following England's dismal failure to reach Euro 2008.
The 61-year-old made his desire to take the job known almost immediately and was quickly installed as the number one candidate once former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho backed out of the running at the weekend.
Capello's standing in the game mean his services come at a price.
His estimated £6.5million annual salary dwarfs the amount Sven-Goran Eriksson commanded, although, if he delivers what the FA feel he is capable of, it will be money well spent.
Capello's contract takes in not just the 2010 World Cup qualifiers but the campaign to reach Euro 2012 as well. His first official game in charge will be against Switzerland at Wembley on February 6.
'Fabio Capello is widely recognised as one of the world's finest coaches,' said FA director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking, who has worked closely with Barwick throughout the consultation process.
'He has achieved huge success wherever he has worked and has the respect of everyone in football.
'Fabio will have the full support of the FA and its coaching set-up. We are excited about working with him over the coming years as we focus on qualification for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.'
Capello will liaise with Brooking over the installation of an English presence within a coaching team which has already been confirmed will include assistants Franco Baldini and Italo Galbiati, goalkeeping coach Franco Tancredi and fitness coach Massimo Neri.
FA director of communications Adrian Bevington insisted Capello is willing to appoint an Englishman within his backroom team.
'Fabio is very, very open and happy to include an English coach - or English coaches - within his staff,' he said on Sky Sports News. 'The key point is that that is something we don't have to rush into.
'People should not get too hung up on the fact there is no English coach on the staff at the moment.'
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Written on 2:47 AM by Rahul Mathur
Well here is a funny webbie ..If u wanna track Santa roaming around the globe go to
http://www.noradsanta.org/en/home.htm and check out their tracker to track santa on the christmas eve i remember doing it last year but now this year its BIGger coz they are now with google so do check it out if u really wanna see santa ;] and if u do see it or not, do tell me ;P
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Written on 10:06 PM by Rahul Mathur
Edwin van der Sar saved all three of Chelsea's spot-kicks as the Reds lifted the Community Shield on a sweltering day at Wembley. The Dutch stopper showed strong arms to beat out efforts from Claudio Pizarro, Frank Lampard and Shaun Wright-Philips before Wayne Rooney tucked in United's third to seal United's 12th Community Shield after the game had ended 1-1. Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick also converted from 12 yards. Sir Alex fielded a similar team to the one that took on Inter Milan at Old Trafford during midweek. The only change saw Mikael Silvestre come in for Chris Eagles, with Patrice Evra pushing forward into midfield.
The Blues enjoyed the lion's share of possession in the opening exchanges but found United in determined mood. Patrice Evra, Mikael Silvestre and Wayne Rooney were all penalised for using too much force in the tackle before John O'Shea got his timing just right when he nicked the ball from Joe Cole inside the area. It took 21 minutes before United forced Chelsea stopper Petr Cech into action. Cristiano Ronaldo roared down the left wing before cutting inside with a view to shoot. He was halted by two Blues defenders but the ball squirmed across the area into Giggs' path, whose shot was bravely blocked by the Chelsea custodian.Wayne Rooney wasted a chance from the resulting corner before Michael Carrick curled a shot wide a minute later. United survived a scare on 27 minutes – John Obi Mikel was inches away from making contact with Michael Essien's flick-on – before taking the lead 10 Nemanja Vidic pinged a cross-field pass to Patrice Evra on the left flank, who played a smart one-two with Ronaldo that sent the Frenchman deep into Chelsea territory. Once at the byeline, Evra cut the ball back to Giggs, who fired the ball high into the net first time, despite close attention from Ricardo Carvalho and Mikel. It was the Welshman's 142nd goal of his United career.Nemanja Vidic had a penalty appeal turned down by referee Mark Halsey on 75 minutes. There were few protests, despite TV replays indicating Tal Ben Haim clearly shoved the Serbian in the back. Ben Haim did well on 84 minutes, however, when he forced Ronaldo wide enough to make things easy for Petr Cech. Neither side pressed too hard for a winner in normal time, although the Reds did win a number of late corners. In the end, the two teams who had been so evenly matched last season required penalties to settle an absorbing Community Shield.
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