Australia Drop to Fifth Place after Defeat in India

Australia have dropped to fifth place in the ICC Test rankings following their 2-0 series defeat in India and are placed below England for the first time since the rankings were introduced in 2003.

Australia and India entered the two-Test series on 113 and 127 points and the hosts' wins in Mohali and Bangalore earned them three more points, taking them 11 clear of South Africa, who are in second place.

In contrast, Australia conceded three points and slipped to 110, two behind England.
It is their lowest ranking ever.

However, they will have the opportunity to reclaim fourth place when England travel to Australia for the Ashes in November.

Source: eurosport.yahoo.com

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Sachin becomes World No. 1 Test batsman

Sachin Tendulkar on Wednesday reclaimed the number one position in the Test rankings, following his stupendous show with the bat in the just concluded Test series against Australia.

Sachin Tendulkar was the highest run-getter with 403 runs in the two-match series, which India won 2-0.

Tendulkar also scored his sixth double hundred and was adjudged Man-of-the-series.The Indian batting legend has now 891 points, according to the ICC ranking table on its website.
Virender Sehwag is the next best Indian at number three with 819 points, behind Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara (874).

Read more at: cricket.ndtv.com
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Mohali Thriller Emphasises why India-Australia Rivalry is Best

Test cricket at its best. Nobody was prepared for such a thriller. Not even those who have been raised on the classics between these two prized opponents of the last decade. Mohali doesn’t suffer in comparison with the Eden Gardens and Adelaide wins, where India defied extreme odds.

Interestingly, in both those wins too, VVS Laxman was magical. Now, after Mohali, he is a colossus. Injury made him just a number in the batting line-up in the first innings. In the second, he needed the crutches of a runner.

Yet, his will prevailed. Rarely has a non-century been as invaluable as Laxman’s 73 on Tuesday.And all this due to the generosity of a man who isn’t viewed as fair by most Indian fans. Ricky Ponting was judged as inflammatory in Sydney. He wasn’t seen as courteous in getting the then BCCI chief down the podium after the Champions Trophy triumph in 2006.

In Mohali, though, he allowed Laxman with a runner in both the innings. He had made a public pledge to restore game’s dignity after the unsavoury episodes of recent times. The Australian skipper was as good as his word.Ishant Sharma was no less heroic. Like Laxman, he too wasn’t in the best of health in the first innings. But he returned to put the skids under Australia in the second innings. Australia would long wonder how India escaped the noose after being 124 for eight.

Still, this game was there for the taking for the Indians. Some smart work in the field wouldn’t have allowed Australia to top the 400-run mark. While poised for a lead, the hosts actually ended up 23 runs behind the visitors.The bowlers again got them in front before the top-order crashed to leave their hopes hanging by a thread.

This thread was all Laxman needed to do his Houdini act.Luck too teased in the closing seconds when Pragyan Ojha could have been leg before wicket or run-out off the same ball. But Gods weren’t willing to come between a ‘Very Special Man’ and his extraordinary task. Zaheer Khan was adjudged the best from the match. And rightly so. Without him, this would have been a no-contest. The majority, though, must be with the genial Hyderabadi. Fellow mates could have their awards while Laxman chooses to be the toast of the nation for the moment.

The Mohali thriller has only further emphasised why India-Australia cricket gets top billing.

Source: Deccanherald.com

Sachin Tendulkar Took a New Flight

New Delhi. Star batsman Sachin Tendulkar on Friday for his achievements in cricket Indian Air Force [IAF] was honored by the honorary rank of Group Captain. Tendulkar is the first player who is awarded the post of IAF and that awards are the first person that aviation is no background.

Earlier in 2008 World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev, India's Territorial Army lieutenant colonel was awarded the honorary post. Records in the King Air 37, Sachin Tendulkar as its brand ambassador has been involved. IAF chief Air Chief Marshal PV Naik colorful ceremony at Air Force Auditorium awarded him the post. Tendulkar said after achieving the honor, "Air Force to be awarded is a matter of great pleasure and honor. I thought that it came true today. AF associated with I am very proud. I join the Air Force from youth and urge to serve the country. "

President Pratibha Patil on June 23 before the star batsman of the Air Force awarded an honorary post was approved. Tendulkar to contribute to the national service honor major figures of the armed forces under the provision of honorary rank to have been awarded. Air Force Group Captain Tendulkar in January this year had proposed to the honorary post. Tendulkar to join the Air Force believes that the younger generation to join IAF and the country will be motivated to serve. Naik said, "Youth him [Tendulkar] has inspired. I believe it will encourage youth to join the Air Force. IAF's my duty to take measures to improve and connect with Sachin about the Air Force will help bring public awareness. "

Tendulkar awarded honorary rank before being familiar with the process of joining the IAF and they have trained in basic military drills and drill. IAF total of 21 celebrities so far has awarded an honorary post.

These first Yashwant Rao Jawahar, who in 1944 was awarded the rank of Flight Lieutenant. Industrialist JR D Tata honorary rank of Air Vice Marshal in 1974 were. Such a mailing last honorary post industrialist Vijaypat Singhania who is now Honorary Air Commodore. Tendulkar over two decades of his career has made many records. He has the most players playing 169 Test matches. He also played 442 ODI matches and Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya's world record in the 444 are very close.

Tendulkar in Test matches so far at an average of 56.08 including 48 centuries and 55 half-century has scored 13 742 are recorded. 17 598 ODI matches he has scored with 46 hundreds. He fashioned the world's first double century in cricket ODI batsman.

We have proved ourselves: Dhoni

Colombo, Aug 7 (IANS) India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said his team's five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka here Saturday in the series-levelling third cricket Test has vindicated the bowlers, who had come in for much cricticism in the first two Tests.

India had fielded a depleted bowling attack in the absence of spearhead Zaheer Khan in the three-match Test series. An out-of-form Harbhajan Singh only added to their woes, with India losing the first Test by 10 wickets.

The visitors came back strongly to draw the second and the won the third Tests to finish up the series 1-1.

A beaming Dhoni praised the all-round performance of the team.

'It is a great win for us. After the first Test people said our bowling is not good enough, that our batsmen were not stepping up. But we have proved ourselves here,' Dhoni said.

'It was a convincing victory for us. The pitch played really well. It had something for batsmen and the bowlers. Our batting plan was to soak up the pressure and Sachin Tendulkar and (V.V.S.) Laxman batted really well. When Kookaburra bowl gets old, it becomes difficult for the bowlers.'

Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakarra felt their batting in the second innings let them down but was said his team can be proud of their performance.

'We put in a good effort through the series. This game we were found wanting with our batting in the second innings. Full credit to the entire team for the effort. It was great Test wicket. It had the bounce for both spinners and the fast bowlers,' Sangakarra said.

'It was great to see the guts shown by Ajantha Mendis. He had to face quite a few blows on his body. Lasith Malinga and Suresh Randiv deserve a special mention. They were fantastic with the ball. All five wickets were taken by Randiv in the second innings. Laxman and Sachin also batted fantastically well.'

Man of the match Laxman (103 not out) who with Tendulkar (54) rustled up 109 runs for the fifth wicket to chase down 257-victory target also attributed the win to the bowlers. It was Laxman's first Man of the Match award in Tests since the Trinidad Test in 2002 and only the third of his career.

'It was a great victory for us. It pulled us back in the series. Bowlers on the third day got us back in the game. Sachin and I played good. I really feel proud of my effort today. (Coach) Gary (Kirsten) told me that it is an opportunity for me to win the match for the country. I am really happy that I along with Sachin won the game for India,' Laxman said.

India wins Asia Cup Cricket Tournament

India won the Asia Cup cricket tournament after crushing defending champions Sri Lanka by 81runs in a lop-sided final in Dambulla yesterday. India bagged the title after a gap of 15 years.

At the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, electing to bat first, India posted a competitive 268 for six in their 50 overs. Man of the Match Dinesh Karthik struck a fighting half-century making 66.

India then defended the total without much hiccup with the seamers producing a scintillating performance. The hosts were skittled out for 187 in 44.4 overs. Nehra was the most successful Indian bowler with four for 40.

This was India’s first Asia Cup triumph since Mohammad Azharuddin had led them to the title in Sharjah in 1995. On that occasion also, India had beaten Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the final.


Source: Samachartoday.com

Muttiah Muralitharan out of World Twenty20

Sri Lanka's ICC World Twenty20 title hopes have been dented by the news that Muttiah Muralitharan will miss the rest of the tournament.

The spinner suffered a groin injury in the two-wicket defeat to New Zealand over the weekend, which will require rest.

The 38-year-old, the highest wicket-taker in Test and one-day cricket, was crucial to his side's chances with spin bowlers expected to play a big part in the tournament on the slow wickets in the Caribbean.

"Sri Lankan team physio Tommy Simsek speaking to srilankacricket.lk revealed that clinical tests revealed a grade one strain of his right adductor muscle," a statement read.

"Murali will be advised to rest for 2-3 weeks, hence a replacement will be decided by SLC with the advice of the National selectors."

Sri Lanka must defeat Zimbabwe in their second group match on Monday to progress to the Super Eights.

Source: Skysports.com