Had point to prove on Indian wickets: Anderson

London: England fast bowler James Anderson is disappointed to be left out of the England squad for the ODI against India as he feels he has a point to prove on the slow wickets.

Anderson will not travel for the forthcoming five One-day series against India after England selectors chose to rest the fast bowler.

Anderson, who did not have a successful World Cup in the sub-continent, feels he would have liked to prove that he can do as well on the Indian wickets

"Three months will be a good time for me to rest, but also get in the gym and get strong for what is going to be a tough year," Anderson was quoted as saying in espncricinfo.

"(But) I didn't have a successful World Cup (in India) and it'd be nice to prove I can actually bowl on those wickets.

Anderson also feels his absence could threaten his place in the strong England squad.

"There's so much competition, that's another reason for wanting to go on tour. It's healthy for the squad, in the Test series we've seen that the guys who come in do exceptionally well. But it keeps you on your toes as a bowler," he said.

Gul claims he saw Anderson tamper with ball

Karachi: Pakistan speedster Umar Gul is set to kick up a storm as he has claimed that he saw English pacer James Anderson tamper with the ball last year during a Test match.

The seasoned pacer, who is tipped to make a comeback to the national side for the coming series against Sri Lanka, said ball-tampering was not new in international cricket and it was being done through legal and illegal methods by many bowlers and teams. 
"I saw Anderson do it last year when we went to England. Then in the Ashes series Stuart Broad was seen roughing up the ball with his boots. All these methods are part and parcel of the game to obtain reverse swing with the old ball," Gul said.

"Most of the bowlers tamper with the ball in international cricket," he added.

Gul's comments that are likely to ignite a new debate came when reporters asked him about the remarks made by Shoaib Akhtar in his controversial autobiography recently released in India.

The retired fast bowler, in his book, has admitted to ball-tampering and claims it is common in Pakistan's domestic cricket. Shoaib has called on the ICC to legalise ball-tampering. Gul said if Shoaib was saying he tampered with the ball he must have done it.

"I can't say much on that but yes many bowlers do it. When you use finger nails to scratch the ball it is illegal but when the fielders keep on throwing the ball on rough and dry pitches or the ball hits the advertising boards and sponsors signs, it is not illegal," he said.

Gul said whether the ball was roughed up legally or illegally it remained an art to obtain reverse swing with it.

"Obtaining reverse swing is an art and must be recognized as one."

But Gul didn't agree with Shoaib's suggestion to legalise ball tampering insisting this would spoil the beauty of the game.

"It should not be legalised because laws can't be changed on this and it should remain an art."

Gul, who has taken 125 Test, 134 ODI and 47 wickets in T20 cricket, said Pakistani bowlers had always been accused of ball-tampering and it was nothing new.

"But in the past no match official has come up with any evidence against us nor has any camera caught us. This talk about ball tampering is not new to us. But reverse swing is something that comes naturally to us and it is an art passed down from generation to generation," he explained.

Ball-tampering allegations have always surrounded the Pakistani bowlers and in 2000 match referee John Reid banned and fined Waqar Younis and Azhar Mahmood for tampering with the ball in Sri Lanka.

In 2010 in Australia, former captain Shahid Afridi was also banned by the ICC when he was caught on camera chewing the ball.

Shoaib Akhtar has also been penalised for ball tampering. The pacer also spoke on Shoaib's disparaging remarks against batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar.

"I can't say specifically that I saw Tendulkar running away from Shoaib but no one can deny that when Shoaib was at his fastest and best the world's best batsmen were nervous against him and there is no batsmen who is not nervous or ruffled when facing a pure fast bowler.

"Even Brian Lara who I rate as the world's best batsman admitted to feeling ruffled when he was hit on the helmet by a bouncer from Shoaib," Gul said.

Promotional event of Shoaib Akhtar's book called off

Mumbai: Close on the heels of scheduled release of Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar's controversial book being cancelled on Sunday, another function which was supposed to be attended by the cricketer on Monday for promotion of his autobiography has also been called off.

"The event has been cancelled. As of now, he (Shoaib) is not coming to Mumbai," sources said.

Former India skipper Dilip Vengsarkar was to release Akhtar's autobiography "Controversially Yours" at the Cricket Club of India (CCI) premises on Sunday.

According to speculations, the cancellation of the event could be due to less-than-flattering remarks in his autobiography about iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar and another senior player Rahul Dravid

In his tell-all autobiography, Akhtar has made many controversial claims.
Akhtar has written that Sachin lacked the ability to finish matches in the initial stages of his career.

He drew flak for his comments from several quarters, including former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram, under whom he made his debut and senior BCCI functionary Rajiv Shukla.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, 15 NCP activists were detained in Thane for allegedly trying to burn an effigy of Akhtar before the Municipal Corporation office.

A protest was held in suburban Dahisar against Akhtar yesterday in which demonstrators carried his posters on backs of donkeys.

Sachin may be your God, not mine, says an unapologetic Shoaib Akhtar

Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar, refusing to apologize for his controversial remarks on Indian cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, said on Wednesday, "Why should I apologize for speaking the truth?" 

Akhtar seemed to be unashamed of the controversial remark in his book --"Controversially Yours” released in New Delhi on Saturday— on cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Despite a mass disapproval of people, in his book, Akhtar claimed that they do not have the ability to finish matches and to be match winners.

A defiant Akhtar said, "He may be your God but he’s not mine,” Akhtar said of Sachin Tendulkar.”

He also added saying, "If your God gets hit on the head there’s nothing to feel bad about. It’s a game of cricket and things happen,”.

"Every player has a bad day and bad times. If he was scared or didn’t perform in one series and I said it — why do you have such a fragile ego?"

Shah Rukh Khan and Lalit Modi 'a cheater'?

Akhtar is also said to have called Shah Rukh Khan and Lalit Modi “a cheater”. King Khan termed Akhtar’s comment as a publicity stunt. “I have heard that he has said something about me. I think whatever he has said is a ploy to sell his book. We should not be falling into the trap,” said Shah Rukh during a recent media interaction.

Akhtar, who has admitted to the charges of ball tampering previously, is controversy’s favourite child. In 2003 he and then captain Waqar Younis were involved in a verbal spat for which both were suspended. In the same year, during a series against Sri Lanka, Akhtar was banned for tampering with the ball — only the second player in the history of cricket. In 2006, Akhtar and teammate Mohammed Asif tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance called nandrolone.

Kochi Tuskers move HC against termination; verdict likely today

New Delhi: The owners of the Kochi IPL franchise have moved the Bombay High Court challenging the BCCI's decision of terminating its IPL franchise contract.

The HC is expected to deliver its verdict on the petition on Wednesday by 3 pm.

The BCCI, had on Monday terminated the contract of IPL franchise Kochi Tuskers Kerala for non-payment of bank guarantee.

The Kochi Franchise (Kochi Kerala Tuskers) that came with a bid of $333 million in March 2010, had threatened for legal action after they were thrown out of the IPL.

The franchise was supposed to renew the bank guarantee (for one-tenth of the bid amount) by March 26, 2011. But despite repeated reminders by the IPL authorities, the controversial team defaulted on a Rs.156 crore annual payment it was to make as bank guarantee.

India vs England: Dhoni & Co finish winless

London: An incredible fightback by Ravi Bopara and newcomer Jonny Bairstow denied India what would have been their maiden victory of the tour as England thrashed the visitors by six wickets in the final ODI at Cardiff on Friday. Despite chasing a revised target that was stiffer than the one set by the visitors initially, England batsmen showed courage and registered a magnificent win to finish the series 3-0.

After India posted 304/6, rain delayed start of the second innings. The game resumed with a revised target of 270 in 40 overs for the hosts. The English openers started cautiously.

However, medium-pacer Vinay Kumar struck to trap Craig Kieswetter (21 off 17 balls) to give England the first jolt before rain returned to halt the chase.

The game resumed with a fresh target of 241 in 34 overs. England skipper Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott played sensibly to consolidate the innings. However, just after Cook reached his half-ton, Virat Kohli cleaned him up to reduce England to 106/2.

Cook’s dismissal came in the delivery after he was dropped by Rahul Dravid off Kohli.  

Ian Bell then joined Trott in the stiff chase. The duo kept England in hunt with some big hits against the Indian spin attack. However, the visitors fought back dismissing both batsmen in quick succession with the asking rate at more than 8 per over.

RP Singh first got rid of Bell (26) before Ravindra Jadeja sent back a well settled Trott for 69.

With two new batsmen Bopara and Bairstow at the crease, India looked in control. However, the visitors couldn’t capitalise on the situation as both batsmen turned the tide in their favour with aggressive batting.

Bairstow smashed a quick-fire 41 off 21 balls while Bopara scored 37 off 22, as England eventually eased to a six-wicket victory with 10 balls to spare.

Indian innings 
An outstanding century by Virat Kohli, supported by Rahul Dravid’s gritty 69 and a fiery cameo by skipper MS Dhoni, powered India to 304/6. 

Kohli was the top-scorer with 107 while Dravid, who will be retiring from ODIs after this match scored 69 off 79 balls. Dhoni played a captain’s knock and stayed unbeaten on 50 off just 26 deliveries.

After being invited in to bat, Indian openers were watchful. India reached 43/0 at the end of the first powerplay. While Ajinkya Rahane looked confident after being dropped by Samit Patel, Parthiv Patel was more cautious in his approach.

After the duo took the score past 50-mark, Jade Dernbach gave England the first breakthrough by removing Rahane for 26.

Graeme Swann once again struck in his very first over and dismissed Patel (19) to give India their second blow. Swann got Patel caught at mid-on by Tim Bresnan, reducing India to 57/2.

However, Kohli and Dravid then set up the innings with great determination. The duo frustrated the English attack and shared 170-run stand for the third wicket before the hosts fought back with Swann’s double bow.

Swann first bowled out Dravid and then dismissed Kohli after his ton to reduce India to 236/4. 38-year-old Dravid got a brilliant send-off from the English players as he donned the Indian blue jersey for the last time.

After hitting 107 off 93 balls, Kohli was out hit wicket while trying to flick Swann.

The Indian skipper then took the baton and powered the side to their highest total of the series.  Dhoni took the attack to the opposition from the word go as he plundered 26-ball-50 that was studded with two sixes and five boundaries. Swann picked up three for 34 runs.

Farewell Dravid: The Wall signs off in style

London: Rahul Dravid signed off from his ODI career in style as the middle-order bulwark slammed a gritty 69 during the final ODI against England at Cardiff on Friday. Dravid who came to bat after the dismissal of Ajinkya Rahane didn’t disappoint his fans and delivered a magnificent knock during his last appearance in the coloured jersey.

Dravid scored 69 off 79 balls and shared 170-run stand with Virat Kohli for the third wicket. His knock was studded with 4 boundaries.

The 38-year-old has amassed 10,889 runs in 344 one-dayers. He also has 12 ODI centuries to his credit.

Dravid had announced his retirement before the start of the series after having been overlooked for limited-over games for most of the past two years.

Cricket greats, including star batsman Sachin Tendulkar, have richly praised Rahul Dravid for his contribution in ODIs.

Tendulkar called Dravid the "unsung hero of the Indian team" and said his value was reflected by the sheer amount of runs he has scored.

Darren Bravo eyeing ICC Emerging Player honour

London: Young West Indies batsman Darren Bravo has admitted to being surprised over his short-listing for the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Emerging Player-of-the-Year award, but is now backing his chances of walking away with the honour.
The 22-year-old, a stylish left-hander, will compete with fellow Windies teammate, leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo and the Pakistan duo of Azhar Ali and Wahab Riaz, for the award at the Sep 12 ceremony here.
"It is a great feeling to be nominated. I was a bit surprised. It has been my first full year in international cricket and I am being listed in that sort of category, so it is special to me. I am thanking the lord for this and hopefully I get the award," says Bravo.
"I think it will be very tough because all the others have performed pretty well. It is about their hard work as well and congratulation to them as well for being nominated.
"Someone like Devendra Bishoo has put in a tremendous amount of hard work since he has come in. So may the best man win."
During the period under scrutiny, Bravo made his Test debut and has since played eight matches, averaging just over 39 with six half-centuries.
Bishoo, meanwhile, has taken 21 wickets in five Tests at 35 runs apiece since making his debut against Pakistan in May and has snared 19 scalps in 11 One-Day Internationals at an average of 21.