New Delhi: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram feels that the playing conditions in Sydney and Perth in the ongoing Test series between India and Australia exposed the "physical inadequacies of an ageing cricketer." "The conditions at Perth and Sydney exposed the physical inadequacies of an ageing cricketer. Hot and humid conditions can be physically taxing and at the WACA, at least three senior Indian batsmen were simply too tired to move their feet and tackle a moving ball after fielding for almost two days at a stretch," Akram wrote in his column for a sports website. "For a cricketer who

Chennai: Tamil Nadu skipper Lakshmipathy Balaji struck a note of confidence as he felt he has the team to win the Ranji Trophy final against holders Rajasthan in the five-day game beginning in Chennai on Thursday. At a pre-match media conference on Wednesday, Balaji opined that the pitch at the Chepauk would assist both bowlers and batsmen, and pointed out that unlike in the past, he could count on more than just one individual to win the game. "It is a good 50-50 wicket and will help both batsmen and bowlers. I expect the match to be a good and challenging contest." "Since our bowlers have

Harare: Alan Butcher, the Zimbabwe coach, believes his team can derive much confidence from their success against New Zealand in a one-off Test match in Bulawayo back in November, as well as a record one-day chase of 329 in the same series. In the Test match, chasing a stiff target of 336 on the final day, Zimbabwe put on a spirited chase but came up 34 runs short, and in the final ODI of the three-match series the hosts pulled off a stunning chase to take a share of the spoils. Butcher said the team could channel that sense of assurance into the upcoming Test starting January 26 in Napier. "

Chennai: With a balanced squad and the benefit of playing at home, Tamil Nadu would look to outwit defending champions Rajasthan in the five-day Ranji Trophy final starting here on Thursday. Making their 11th attempt to win the coveted title for only the third time, Tamil Nadu will bank on home advantage to ensure that their consistent show this season ends on a high. Tamil Nadu would be playing their third final in the past 10 seasons and would aim to get over the habit of stumbling in the summit clash after doing all the hard work in the league stages. The slow pace and low bounce of the

Perth: India's veteran middle-order batsman VVS Laxman has squashed reports of his retirement following his poor performance in the ongoing Test series against Australia. Laxman, who has played 133 Tests, has averaged just 17 in the three Tests so far in the series and calls are being made to replace him with young Rohit Sharma. Laxman's lacklustre fielding skills and a recurring back problem have also quelled rumours that he would be the first of the seniors to retire. After a one-on-one technical session with coach Duncan Fletcher at the WACA Ground here on Tuesday, Laxman dismissed specul

Colombo: The Sri Lankan government has ordered a probe into the national cricket team's "crisis situation" after they fell to another defeat in their one-day series in South Africa, an official said on Wednesday. Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage asked the country's cricket governing body to investigate and recommend remedial action to end the side's recent poor performances, his spokesman Harsha Abeykoon said. South Africa defeated Sri Lanka by four runs on Tuesday to take a winning 3-0 lead in their five-match ODI series. "Carefully investigate the current crisis situation in the n

Dubai: Pakistan openers Mohammad Hafeez and Taufeeq Umar hit contrasting half-centuries to steer their team to a 96-run lead over England with three wickets in hand by stumps Wednesday on the second day of the first Test. Led by Hafeez's chancy 88 and Umar's solid 58, Pakistan reached 288-7 in reply to England's 192 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Offspinner Saeed Ajmal's career-best 7-55 on Tuesday had bundled out top-ranked England on a pitch favorable for batting. Misbah-ul-Haq (52) frustrated England further with his 11th half-century in 13 Tests since being appointed captain in

Johannesburg: Cricket South Africa chief executive Gerald Majola was 'like a Frankenstein which was out of control', former CSA president Norman Arendse told the Nicholson inquiry into the financial affairs of the board. "Much like the googly and the doosra, there is lots of deception in cricket," said Arendse, who resigned in 2008 after his relationship with Majola broke down irreconcilably. Arendse accused Majola of ruling CSA with an iron fist. "(Majola) comes with a document and says: 'I propose the following people to sit on the audit committee (and) the remunerations committee.' There

Perth: India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Tuesday told MiD DAY that he was well aware of his team's slow over-rate in the Perth Test and even tried to rectify it but couldn't. Dhoni was handed a one-Test ban for India's slow over-rate and will have to sit out the fourth Test in Adelaide. "We were behind in the over rate by just about eight minutes - which is two and a half overs. I realised this and tried to make up for it by bringing on Virender Sehwag (off-spin) to bowl (71st over). "However, Sehwag getting the wicket of Ben Hilfenhaus changed things. The ninth wicket was that of Ryan H

Melbourne: Australian spin legend Shane Warne has backed out-of-form wicketkeeper Brad Haddin to retain his place in the national team but said Matthew Wade is ready to replace him. Haddin has not scored a Test century since November 2010 and in his last four Tests, he has made just 53 runs at an average of 10.6. Even behind the stumps, he is far from impressive, dropping catches in recent matches and that has put the Test vice-captain under pressure. Despite Haddin is almost certain to retain his place in what would most probably be an unchanged squad for the fourth and final Test against I