Fantain News: July 2014

The woeful world of Pankaj Singh

Pankaj Singh greeted his most expensive analysis in Test history with the words 'That is cricket'. It was admirable acceptance from an impressive man of a record he did not deserve.........
Read more

Can't See India Saving Southampton Test, Says Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar feels India have lost their chance of forcing a draw in the third Test against England after losing four top-order wickets on the penultimate day.....

Cook Ageas-Bowl high, Pankaj's debut low

Number of times Alastair Cook has scored a fifty in both innings as captain of England. Cook has achieved this feat on nine previous occasions, but never as captain.....
Read more

England v India: Hosts close on win after Moeen Ali strikes twice

England moved closer to levelling the series against India with another dominant display on day four of the third Test in Southampton.....
Read more

India in England: Virat Kohli Wants Teammates to Show Character

Virat Kohli urged the Indian team to stand up on the final day of the third Test against England and show some character on what is bound to be a tough day.....

Kallis retires from international cricket

Jacques Kallis, the legendary South African allrounder, announced his retirement on Wednesday (July 30) from all formats of international cricket......
Read more

James Anderson in fresh controversy during India-England 3rd Test at Southampton?

England pace spearhead James Anderson could possibly be involved in a fresh controversy after appearing to have few words with India batsman Ajinkya Rahane during the final over of the fourth day’s play in third Test at Southampton...
Read more

Kohli's weakness grows wider

Virat Kohli's is a game without any other glaring weakness but England have clearly tried to play on the attacking batsman's ego a bit but starving him outside off stump...
Read more

Gordon Lewis to hear Jadeja’s appeal too

Gordon Lewis, the judicial commissioner who will preside over James Anderson’s Level 3 hearing on Friday (August 1) morning – the day after the scheduled close of the third...
Read more

Yuvraj, Ganguly, Zaheer and Indian team to come together in support of my charitable cause’

So what am I up to these days? Well, the T20 blast has been in full swing and Surrey have qualified for the quarter-finals and the Royal London 50 over tournament which started on Sunday. But, more of that later.....
Read more

Malinga picks Mumbai Indians over Sri Lankan team for Champions League

Lasith Malinga will represent Mumbai Indians at the Champions League T20 over the Southern Express side he led to the Super Fours title in Sri Lanka. Although he will not turn out for them, Malinga has over the past few....
Read more

India vs England, 3rd Test at Southampton: Draw the most likely result, feels Sunil Gavaskar

It looks like a draw,” said the Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar as he left the media centre at Ageas Bowl on the evening of the third day of the second Test match. “Mainly because the wicket has not deteriorated at all.”....
Read more

Boon instructs Moeen to remove wristbands

England batsman Moeen Ali has been told to remove his controversial 'Save Gaza' and 'Free Palestine' wristbands.....
Read more

Reckless India in danger of following on

For almost two whole days India's bowlers had laboured on a surface that appeared docile. On the third, James Anderson showed them how it's done. He ran in with verve...
Read more

Alastair Cook's 95 brings him back from the cricketing abyss

Even if the greatest of batsmen have the ups and downs to prove that form is a fickle mistress, Alastair Cook must still have begun to think that he would never be loved again...
Read more

Richardson tells captains to not 'undermine' ICC judiciary process

ICC chief executive David Richardson has come out in support of match referee David Boon's verdict on Ravindra Jadeja, relating to the incident with James Anderson at Trent Bridge.....
Read more

Ben Stokes, Matt Prior testify against Jadeja

In a fresh twist to the alleged altercation between Ravindra Jadeja and James Anderson, two England players have testified that the Indian all-rounder had turned towards the English bowler with a raised bat during the showdown...
Read more

India in England: Sunil Gavaskar Unimpressed With MS Dhoni's Slip Cordon

Alastair Cook made the most of a dropped chance on Day One of the third Test against India. Sunil Gavaskar feels the fault lies in the fielders manning the slip cordon and also the men chosen to be placed at that vital position...

Ishant Sharma to undergo more tests on sore leg: Joe Dawes

India’s bowling coach Joe Dawes was apprehensive about Ishant Sharma’s fitness, saying the pace spearhead will undergo tests in the next few days after missing out on the second test due to a sore leg....
Read more

MS Dhoni Reprimanded by ICC for Protesting Ravindra Jadeja Fine

MS Dhoni had called the ICC decision to fine Ravindra Jadeja 50 per cent of his match hurtful. A day after, the ICC came down heavily on the Indian captain for his comments.....

We would hate to lose tomorrow: de Villiers

AB de Villiers burst on to the international scene when he had just a dozen first-class games to his credit. He was his generation’s freak...
Read more

South Africa need 331 more on final day

Kumar Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews struck brisk half-centuries on Sunday (July 27) to help Sri Lanka set up a thrilling...
Read more

India vs England, 3rd Test, at Southampton: Alastair Cook, Gary Ballance put England in strong position

Almost immediately after tea, Mohammed Shami bowled short and Alastair Cook rocked back to pull him to the mid-wicket fence. It took him into the nineties. He flashed at the next ball outside...
Read more

Hampshire groundsman confident in pitch: ENG vs IND

Hampshire head groundsman Nigel Gray believes the Ageas Bowl pitch is in good shape for the third Test between England and India...
Read more

England threw away Test on first day

After the draw at Trent Bridge, England wanted a green-tinged surface, and a bit more bounce. They got both at Lord’s, with the green more than just a tinge.....
Read more

India invests in short ball and reaps rich dividends

If you are an international batsman then one examination you are bound to sit at some point is the test of how you negotiate the short ball. You may avoid it for a while but rest assured it will come, as opponents probe for....
Read more

Bankrupt Graeme Pollock turns to India for help

Graeme Pollock, the man with the 2nd highest Test batting average all-time behind Bradman, is on the verge of bankruptcy and losing his mortgaged home....
Read more

India to Host Champions League T20 from September 13 to October 4; KKR vs CSK in opener

Kolkata Knight Riders, winners of the Indian Premier League in 2014 and 2012, will take on Chennai Super Kings, winners of the IPL in 2011 and IPL and CLT20 champions in 2010, in the inaugural Group match of the Champions........
Read more

Manan Vohra, Mohit Sharma Star in Easy India A Win

Young opener Manan Vohra and limited overs specialist Mohit Sharma came up with fine performances as India A posted a comfortable six-wicket win...
Read more

ICC turns down inclusion of cricket in 2018 Commonwealth Games

The International Cricket Council (ICC) turned down an invitation for cricket to feature in the 2018 Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast in Australia., although.....
Read more

Virat Kohli’s childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma advises him not to play square of wicket

Virat Kohli‘s childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma has advised his ward to “avoid playing strokes square off the wicket initially” in order to counter the swing, saying it....
Read more

India in England: R Ashwin Should be in Playing XI, Says Bishan Singh Bedi

Spin legend Bishen Singh Bedi feels India are missing out a trick in England by not including off-spinner R Ashwin in the playing XI. He had to sit out the first two Tests as India preferred to go in with Karnataka all-rounder Stuart Binny...

My Career Really Took Off After Knock of 114 at Bouncy Perth Track: Sachin Tendulkar

Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar's response came when he was asked by a student to rate his best Test century out of the 51 tons he had scored in his 24-year international career in which he also notched up 49 ODI hundreds to make it a round 100 centuries...

British media rips into Cook & co

The English press has come down heavily on Alastair Cook and his men, with ex-cricketers calling for the captain's resignation in the wake of the embarrassing loss to India on a tailor-made Lord's surface.....
Read more

Matt Prior 'hunted mercilessly' by media, says Sussex boss

Matt Prior 'hunted mercilessly' by media, says Sussex boss

Media scrutiny played a major part in wicketkeeper Matt Prior's decision to stand down from England duty for the rest of the summer, according to Sussex manager Mark Robinson....
Read more

Williamson banned from bowling due to illegal action

Williamson banned from bowling due to illegal action

Kane Williamson, the part-time New Zealand offspinner, has been suspended from bowling in international cricket after his action was found to be illegal....
Read more

MS Dhoni takes 5th spot in Forbes Magazine’s valuable sports persons list

MS Dhoni takes 5th spot in Forbes Magazine’s valuable sports persons list

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been rated as the fifth valuable sportsperson on the planet, according to Forbes Magazine.....
Read more

India vs England: MS Dhoni Street-Smart, Alastair Cook Unimaginative, Says Steve Waugh

India vs England: MS Dhoni Street-Smart, Alastair Cook Unimaginative, Says Steve Waugh

After their win versus England at Lord's, former Australian Test captain Steve Waugh feels India will challenge Australia when they travel Down Under later this year....

I Would Love to Play for England Again, Says Kevin Pietersen

I Would Love to Play for England Again, Says Kevin Pietersen

The 34-year-old Kevin Pietersen, who was left out of the England team after dressing room problems with some of his teammates including skipper Alastair Cook, said he is open to coming back....

Anderson hearing at end of third Test

Anderson hearing at end of third Test
James Anderson's disciplinary hearing will take place on August 1 at the conclusion of the third Test between India and England......
Read more

Ishant climbs to 20th on ICC charts

Ishant climbs to 20th on ICC charts

Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, M Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane were among the Indian players to make significant....
Read more

To quit now would be wrong, says Cook

To quit now would be wrong, says Cook

Despite widespread calls for him to go for the great and good of English cricket, Alastair Cook insisted that he would not walk away after...
Read more

Jos Buttler calls his Test call-up for England against India a “dream come true”

Jos Buttler calls his Test call-up for England against India a “dream come true”

New England wicket-keeper Jos Buttler finally gets the Test status after serving as a One-Day cricketer and this, he says, is a “dream come true”. Lancastrian Buttler, 23, has played 63 times in limited-overs....
Read more

England Captain Steven Gerrard Retires From International Football

England Captain Steven Gerrard Retires From International Football

land captain Steven Gerrard has announced his retirement from international soccer, the Football Association said on Monday.The Liverpool midfielder won 114 caps for his country after making his debut in a 2-0 win over Ukraine at Wembley in 2000...
Read more

Alastair Cook Struggles to Accept 'Tough Lord's Defeat'

Alastair Cook Struggles to Accept 'Tough Lord's Defeat'

England Alastair Cook was crestfallen after England's 95-run defeat against India at Lord's but promised to turn things around in the remaining three matches in the series....

India vs England: Roles Have Reversed, We Can Bounce Out Teams Too, Says Sourav Ganguly

India vs England: Roles Have Reversed, We Can Bounce Out Teams Too, Says Sourav Ganguly

Ishant Sharma's hostile spell in the post-lunch session on Day 5 of the Lord's Test consigned England to a 95-run defeat. This was India's first overseas Test win since 2011 and Sourav Ganguly saluted MS Dhoni's young Turks...

Dhoni forced me to bowl bouncers - Ishant

Dhoni forced me to bowl bouncers - Ishant

Ishant Sharma who picked a career-best 7/74 gave full credit to MS Dhoni for coaxing him into bowling short balls."All these wickets are for the captain as he told me that I am tall enough and to bowl the bouncers," said Ishant after winning the Man of the Match award....
Read more

Matt Prior takes sensible decision by withdrawing himself from England squad

Matt Prior takes sensible decision by withdrawing himself from England squad

As the game hung in the balance at lunch on Day Five, a determined Matt Prior walked out with that look in the eye. The third ball he faced was short and wide, which was smashed by Prior out of the middle of the bat through the off-side.....
Read more

Ishant devastates England in landmark win

Ishant devastates England in landmark win

Ishant Sharma, bowling short and aggressively with the old ball, produced one of the most memorable spells in...
Read more

England Cricketers Spooked Out, Claim Team Hotel at London Haunted

England Cricketers Spooked Out, Claim Team Hotel at London Haunted

According to Daily Mail on Sunday, England players' wives and girlfriends have refused to stay at the famous Langham Hotel during London Test matches this summer after complaints of mysterious goings-on at night....

India tour of England 2014: Ravindra Jadeja may have changed his Test career

India tour of England 2014: Ravindra Jadeja may have changed his Test career

There was a lot more to the contest than what transpired on the field alone. Ravindra Jadeja walked out at Lord’s on Day Four, with a host of challenges ahead. Firstly, he was public enemy no 1 given....Read more

Steyn thanks Donald, rates Galle heroics among his best

Steyn thanks Donald, rates Galle heroics among his best

South African fast bowler Dale Steyn rated his match-winning performance in the Galle test against Sri Lanka among his best and said watching videos of former fast bowling great Allan Donald...

Read more

Bhuvneshwar charts his own path to excellence

Bhuvneshwar charts his own path to excellence

There was a time, especially in the days when the spin quartet were to the fore, when the phrase ‘Indian pace bowler’ was almost an oxymoron, something to elicit.....

Read more

England v India: Tourists close in on victory in second Test at Lord's

England v India: Tourists close in on victory in second Test at Lord's

England are on the verge of defeat after India put in a superb performance with the bat and ball in the second Test at Lord's. ....
Read more

Land of Football No More, Brazil Needs to Reinvent Itself

Land of Football No More, Brazil Needs to Reinvent Itself

The largest country in Latin America, most commonly known for its vibrant soccer, left 200 million citizens shocked after its loss in....
Read more

England v India: Alastair Cook criticised by Geoffrey Boycott

England v India: Alastair Cook criticised by Geoffrey Boycott

Alastair Cook will not "make it as a tactical captain", according to former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott...
Read more

1st Test, Day 2: JP Duminy's Ton Guides South Africa to 455/9

1st Test, Day 2: JP Duminy's Ton Guides South Africa to 455/9

Jean-Paul Duminy hit a superb unbeaten century to put South Africa in a position of strength on the second day of the first Test against Sri Lanka on Thursday....
Read more

Dhoni implacable on Anderson

Dhoni implacable on Anderson

James Anderson has riled many opponents in an illustrious Test career, but when it came to his disagreement with Ravindra Jadeja, India's captain MS Dhoni saw a chance to make a stand...

India vs England, 2nd Test at Lord’s: Ajinkya Rahane learnt from MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli how to bat with tail

India vs England, 2nd Test at Lord’s: Ajinkya Rahane learnt from MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli how to bat with tail

Delighted to be on the Lord’s roll-of-honour after a gritty hundred on the opening day of the second Test, Ajinkya Rahane revealed that he was a little nervous before his first Test at this celebrated ground. The batsman though did calm down on the morning of the match, and that was enough to......

Read more

Rahane, the master’s willing apprentice

Rahane, the master’s willing apprentice

At this end of his 200th and final Test, Sachin Tendulkar didn’t just address the thousands that had gathered to bid him......
Read more

Manuel Pellegrini Rejects Offer to Coach Brazil

Manuel Pellegrini Rejects Offer to Coach Brazil

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini refused to enter into negotiations with the Brazilian FA, saying that he wanted to complete his three-year contract at the Etihad.....

South Africa slip and slide in Galle

South Africa slip and slide in Galle

South Africans will believe they let a potentially dominant position slip to a good one – and then a modest one in..
Read more

Dravid elected into Laureus academy

Dravid elected into Laureus academy

Rahul Dravid will join the likes of Steve Waugh, Sir Ian Botham and Sir Vivian Richards on the panel of the Laureus World Sports Academy....
Read more

Cook: This is all a tactic to get rid of Jimmy

Cook: This is all a tactic to get rid of Jimmy
England captain Alastair Cook is convinced India only laid a charge against fast bowler James Anderson in an attempt to rattle the paceman, or to get him ...

Read more

It was good Jadeja did not retaliate, says Dhoni

It was good Jadeja did not retaliate, says Dhoni

Fifteen minutes after Alastair Cook suggested India were being cheeky in making an official complaint against James Anderson, trying to eliminate their best bowler from the series, MS Dhoni sought to.....
Read more

England v India: Jonathan Agnew on Kerrigan, Cook & pitches

England v India: Jonathan Agnew on Kerrigan, Cook & pitches

England fought back gamely at Trent Bridge to give themselves an outside chance of victory going into the final day..
Read more

How Brazil silenced its critics

How Brazil silenced its critics

I'll hold my hand up, and so should quite a few others, for perhaps underestimating Brazil's ability to hold what turned out to be an overwhelmingly successful World Cup...
Read more

Russians learn from Brazil while India ‘sleeps’

Russians learn from Brazil while India ‘sleeps’

The 2014 World Cup in Brazil has been a smashing success on all fronts. Despite all the problems and protests, the organisers have managed to build 12 swanky stadiums, Fan fest areas have drawn huge crowds in Brazil and many other parts of the World...
Read more

Blatter also surprised by Messi award

Blatter also surprised by Messi award

FIFA President Joseph Blatter has admitted to being surprised by the Golden Ball award to Lionel Messi as the outstanding player of the World Cup in Brazil.
Read more

Sim Bhullar, First Indian-Origin Athlete to be Part of NBA

Sim Bhullar, First Indian-Origin Athlete to be Part of NBA

Sim Bhullar, 21, a centre from New Mexico State University, has signed a summer contract with the Sacramento Kings, a professional basketball team in the United States...

Wimbledon Champion Novak Djokovic Marries Girlfriend Jelena Ristic

Wimbledon Champion Novak Djokovic Marries Girlfriend Jelena Ristic

Four days after winning Wimbledon, Novak Djokovic has married his pregnant fiancee in a private ceremony in Montenegro...
Read more

Naman Ojha, Umesh Yadav lead India A’s fightback against Australia A

Naman Ojha, Umesh Yadav lead India A’s fightback against Australia A

In-form Naman Ojha struck a brave ton while No 10 batsman Umesh Yadav made 90 to not only pull India A out of trouble but also...
Read more

South Africa's Hashim Amla Set for Historic Test

South Africa's Hashim Amla Set for Historic Test

Thirty-one-year-old Hashim Amla is the first non-white player to captain the South African Test side in a full-time capacity. Ashwell Prince has skippered on a stand-in basis...

Answer to the question: Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Answer to the question: Bhuvneshwar Kumar

The Trent Bridge Test saw Bhuvneshwar Kumar bat for 5 hours, score a fifty in both innings, use the new ball, log 30.5 overs and finish with an average of 121, and figures of 5 for 82.

Read more

Mahela Jayawardene to retire from Test cricket

Mahela Jayawardene to retire from Test cricket

Jayawardene will retire from Test cricket following the home series against South Africa and Pakistan....

Read more

Numbers speak of England’s decline

Numbers speak of England’s decline

Numbers aren’t everything, but when it comes to the downturn in English cricket fortunes since that 4-0 thumping of India three years ago, they reveal a great deal.

Read more

Lots of positives in the way team has developed: Dhoni

Lots of positives in the way team has developed: Dhoni

How the wheel has turned for Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Each tour of England has proved to be a significant milestone in his career, and after the draw....

Read more

Ian Chappell wants Virat Kohli to take over Test captaincy from MS Dhoni

Ian Chappell wants Virat Kohli to take over Test captaincy from MS Dhoni

Former Australia captain Ian Chappell does not find Mahendra Singh Dhoni good enough to be India`s Test captain, saying he was past his prime as far as leading the side and it was right time to hand the reins of the team to Virat Kohli...

Read more

Thousands welcome Argentina home after World Cup final defeat

Thousands welcome Argentina home after World Cup final defeat

A crestfallen Lionel Messi kept a low profile as thousands welcomed the Argentina squad home Monday after a World Cup final defeat to Germany....
Read more

Stuart Broad: Indian wickets are faster

Stuart Broad: Indian wickets are faster

Stuart Broad made some interesting points during his press conference at the end of the second day of the first Test match played against India at Trent Bridge...
Read more

England vs India, 1st Test, Day 2: Bhuvneshwar, Shami Star as India Take Charge at Trent Bridge

England vs India, 1st Test, Day 2: Bhuvneshwar, Shami Star as India Take Charge at Trent Bridge

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami added 111 runs for the last wicket as India piled up 457, before England went to stumps at 43/1, still trailing by 414 runs on the second day of the first Test at Trent Bridge....

Neymar to Join Brazil for Third Place Play-Off

Neymar to Join Brazil for Third Place Play-Off

Brazil's injured striker Neymar will attend Saturday's third place play-off when the battered World Cup hosts take on the Netherlands...
Read more

Brazil's Neymar makes wheelchair claim

Brazil's Neymar makes wheelchair claim

Brazil star Neymar broke down in tears as he claimed the challenge that ended his World Cup could have left him paralysed..
Read more

Argentina to Take on Germany for Third Time in World Cup Final

Argentina to Take on Germany for Third Time in World Cup Final

Argentina eliminated the Netherlands in a penalty shootout to set up a third meeting with Germany in the World Cup final...
Read more

Aguero: Underdog tag helps Argentina

Aguero: Underdog tag helps Argentina

Argentina striker Sergio Aguero believes his side will relish the tag of underdogs when they face Germany in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final™ in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday...
Read more

Kuyt: Van Gaal just wants success

Kuyt: Van Gaal just wants success

Dirk Kuyt is convinced that Louis van Gaal will be a resounding success at Manchester United.
The 62-year-old will assume his position as Red Devils boss next week after taking charge of Netherlands in their 2014 FIFA World Cup™ third-place play-off against Brazil on Saturday....
Read more

All-round Dilshan overpowers South Africa

All-round Dilshan overpowers South Africa

Thirteen is thought to be the number of misfortune. For Hashim Amla and South Africa, it was the opposite until today....
Read more

Trent Bridge groundsman apologises for 'Indian' pitch

Trent Bridge groundsman apologises for 'Indian' pitch

Nottinghamshire head groundsman Steve Birks said things hadn't gone to plan after appearing to produce a pitch ideally suited for India, rather than England, in the first Test at Trent Bridge on Wednesday....
Read more

Vijay repels England with stylish ton

Vijay repels England with stylish ton

M Vijay’s first overseas century – the fourth of his career – underpinned India’s batting effort on the first day of the series at Trent Bridge. England, who lost the toss on a slow and placid pitch..
Read more

FIFA World Cup 2014: Nobody Will Die, Says Defiant Luiz Felipe Scolari

FIFA World Cup 2014: Nobody Will Die, Says Defiant Luiz Felipe Scolari...
Read more

World Cup 2014: Argentina victory would complete Brazil's humiliation

As the rain finally ceased and Argentina won their World Cup semi-final against the Netherlands on penalties, the celebrations were in full swing with sights fully set on Sunday's meeting with Germany...
Read more

Advantage Germany in final after ‘war’, says Argentina coach Sabella

The Argentina manager, Alejandro Sabella, has admitted Germany’s freshness will hand them a considerable advantage in Sunday’s World Cup final after the South Americans overcame Holland to reach the showpiece for the first time in 24 years...
Read more

A test for two rebuilding teams

Just under three years ago, most of the talk was about milestones heading into India's tour of England. The 2000th Test. The 100th Test between England and India. Sachin Tendulkar's 100th international hundred. Duncan Fletcher's 100th Test as coach...
Read more

Teams in transition have all to play for

When Wisden India interviewed him midway through the 2012-13 Ranji Trophy season, Stuart Binny was quite candid about his expectations. “I do not want to set high goals because sometimes..
Read more

Cheteshwar Pujara hurts you slowly but Virat Kohli can devastate an attack: Kevin Pietersen

England batsman Kevin Pietersen feels the new set of Indian batsmen could prove heavy for England if the hosts slip up in their bowling. Pietersen marked Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara to succeed in this series..
Read more

World Cup 2014: 'Dutch Messi' Arjen Robben ready for Argentina

The diving controversies which have shrouded Arjen Robben's FIFA World Cup campaign in Brazil cannot mask the fact that the Bayern Munich star has been Holland's most consistently effective attacker..

World Cup loss ‘worst moment of my life’, Scolari says after crushing Brazil defeat

Luiz Felipe Scolari called his side’s humbling 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany “the worst moment of my life”, but insisted Brazilian football does not require an overhaul...
Read more

World Cup 2014: Miroslav Klose breaks finals goals record

Germany striker Miroslav Klose became the record scorer in World Cup history by netting his 16th finals goal in the 7-1 semi-final victory over Brazil...
Read more

Brazil stars struggle to explain shock scoreline

Brazil's stunned football stars struggled to explain one of the biggest upsets in FIFA World Cup history after they lost their semi-final 7-1 to Germany on Tuesday..
Read more

Germany humiliate Brazil 7-1 to reach FIFA World Cup final

Germany poured in the goals Tuesday to hand Brazil its heaviest World Cup loss ever with an astounding 7-1 rout in the semifinals that stunned the host nation...
Read more

Marsh, Whiteman punish India A

Marsh, Whiteman punish India A

Mitchell Marsh and Sam Whiteman put on a mammoth 371-run stand for the seventh wicket to help Australia A claw their way back from a precarious..
Read more

New script for a new generation

New script for a new generation

For some, 42 is the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. For Indian cricketers embarking on a tour of England, it’s an old ghost that’s never far from the pavilion...
Read more

Shakib Al Hasan’s ban is justified

Shakib Al Hasan’s ban is justified

Bangladesh cricketer Shakib Al Hasan has been banned for six months from playing international cricket by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Monday. Moreover, he has been prevented from participating in overseas Twenty20 (T20) tournaments till the end of 2015..
Read more

Silva declares Zuniga a coward

Silva declares Zuniga a coward

Brazil captain Thiago Silva has branded Juan Zuniga a "coward" for causing the injury that ended Neymar's World Cup...
Read more

FIFA dismisses Silva plea, slams leniency claim

FIFA dismisses Silva plea, slams leniency claim

FIFA rejected Brazil's request to allow suspended captain Thiago Silva to face Germany in the World Cup semifinals on Monday as they angrily hit back at claims referees had been ordered to take a lenient approach to foul play..
Read more

Brazil threaten doctors over false Neymar hope

Brazil threaten doctors over false Neymar hope

Reports emerged on Sunday that the 22-year-old could feature in the World Cup final, should the Selecao make it, but there have been furious reactions to those claims...
Read more

Scolari: We are ready to cope without Neymar

Scolari: We are ready to cope without Neymar

Luiz Felipe Scolari has insisted Brazil is physically and mentally prepared to overcome Germany in the World Cup semifinals despite the absence of injured talisman Neymar...
Read more

All-round West Indies level T20I series

All-round West Indies level T20I series

New Zealand’s batting collapsed under the pressure of an ever-increasing asking rate as West Indies claimed a 39-run victory in the second and final Twenty20 International at Windsor Park in Dominica on Sunday...
Read more

Flintoff steady on comeback

Flintoff steady on comeback

Andrew Flintoff eased into county-cricket mode in front of a packed crowd at New Road in Worcester as he scalped a couple of wickets in Lancashire Lightning’s comfortable win against Worcestershire Rapids in the NatWest T20 Blast North Group...
Read more

1st ODI: Hashim Amla Hits Ton as South Africa Thrash Sri Lanka by 75 runs

1st ODI: Hashim Amla Hits Ton as South Africa Thrash Sri Lanka by 75 runs

Angelo Mathews said Sri Lanka had a ‘bad day at the office’ against South Africa in the first One-Day International....
Read more

When Yuvraj Singh Sought Sachin Tendulkar's Blessings and Lord's Cheered

When Yuvraj Singh Sought Sachin Tendulkar's Blessings and Lord's Cheered

Cricket at Lord's got a touch of Indian tradition on Friday. Yuvraj Singh - batting for Rest of the World (ROW) - smashed a....
Read more

Argentina's Angel Di Maria out of semi-final but better news on Sergio Aguero

Argentina's Angel Di Maria out of semi-final but better news on Sergio Aguero

Angel Di Maria will miss Argentina's semi-final against the Netherlands on Wednesday after hobbling out of their match with Belgium over the weekend.....
Read more

World Cup: Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari says Neymar lost feeling in his legs

World Cup: Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari says Neymar lost feeling in his legs

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari claims Neymar feared he was paralysed shortly after he was injured during the 2-1 World Cup quarter-final victory over Colombia on Friday....
Read more

Krul: I told penalty takers I knew their plan

Krul: I told penalty takers I knew their plan

It appeared as if a spell had been cast on the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador on Saturday, as the stadium ..
Read more

Kuyt: We're one team with one goal

Kuyt: We're one team with one goal

"You only have to do one thing. Taking a penalty is really quite simple: you either miss it, or you score."...
Read more

Thousands welcome home Cafeteros

Thousands welcome home Cafeteros

Thousands of people mobbed the streets of Bogota to grab a glimpse of their heroes as Colombia's FIFA World Cup squad arrived home Sunday after their historic run to the quarter-finals..
Read more

Sania Mirza's Wimbledon Campaign Sees Sad End Following Third Round Mixed Doubles Exit

Sania Mirza's Wimbledon Campaign Sees Sad End Following Third Round Mixed Doubles Exit

India's Sania Mirza, who was seeded sixth in the draw along with her Romanian partner Horia Tecau, had earlier lost in the second round of..

Eugenie Bouchard Sets Up Historic Wimbledon Final With 2011 Champion Petra Kvitova

Eugenie Bouchard Sets Up Historic Wimbledon Final With 2011 Champion Petra Kvitova

World No. 13 Eugenie Bouchard beat the third seed and French Open runner-up Simona Halep 7-6, 6-2 and will take on Czech sixth seed Petra Kvitova, the 2011 champion, in Saturday's ladies singles final at Wimbledon...

It's time to Right a Wrong in England, Says Sourav Ganguly

It's time to Right a Wrong in England, Says Sourav Ganguly

Calling it the Revenge Series, former skipper Sourav Ganguly feels this is India's best chance to win a Test series in England. India..
Read more

Germany players suffering with flu symptoms

Germany players suffering with flu symptoms

Seven Germany players are suffering from flu symptoms, 24 hours before Friday's World Cup quarter-final against France...
Read more

Few pluses for Indians in facile win

Few pluses for Indians in facile win

In the middle of the afternoon, with Ishant Sharma almost in his run-up, the batsman Billy Godleman was left nonplussed as the keeper MS Dhoni ran towards the unmanned cover region...
Read more

Who is Maria Sharapova? A cricket atheist who does not know Tendulkar

Who is Maria Sharapova? A cricket atheist who does not know Tendulkar

After Maria Sharapova's defeat at Wimbledon she was asked about the sports stars in the crowd and admitted she did not know of the 'God of cricket'. Tendulkar's fans were not amused...
Read more

Neymar versus Rodriguez in numbers

Neymar versus Rodriguez in numbers

With a country’s expectations weighing heavily on his shoulders in 2013, Neymar rose to the occasion as Brazil swept all aside at the FIFA Confederations Cup. This summer, the burden was increased..
Read more

Armero: We are going for glory

Armero: We are going for glory

Colombia defender Pablo Armero has laughed off suggestions that Brazil are vulnerable going into Friday's FIFA World Cup quarter-final clash in Fortaleza...
Read more

Overpass in Brazil's World Cup host city collapses on to vehicles below

Overpass in Brazil's World Cup host city collapses on to vehicles below

An unfinished overpass collapsed in the Brazilian World Cup host city of Belo Horizonte on Thursday, killing at least two people, emergency officials said...
Read more

Sourav Ganguly: India should take a leaf out of Sri Lanka’s book to beat England

Sourav Ganguly: India should take a leaf out of Sri Lanka’s book to beat England

Sourav Ganguly, the former India captain, has featured in three series in England. Under his leadership in 2002, India managed to draw it 1-1. In 2007, they won it 1-0 with Ganguly scoring crucial runs. In this interview, Ganguly talks about how India can succeed in England and what Mahendra Singh Dhoni should do during the five-match Test series..
Read more

Costa Rica goalkeeping hero Keylor Navas nursing injury ahead of World Cup quarter final

Costa Rica goalkeeping hero Keylor Navas nursing injury ahead of World Cup quarter final

The 27-year-old stopper has been a standout performer at the tournament and was decisive in the shootout win over Greece earlier this week..
Read more

India Must Attack Out-of-Form Alastair Cook, Feels Ravi Shastri

India Must Attack Out-of-Form Alastair Cook, Feels Ravi Shastri

England skipper Alastair Cook has been struggling with the bat and his captaincy is increasingly under the scanner. Former India star Ravi Shastri feels MS Dhoni's men must target Cook, who is at the lowest ebb of his international career as the two sides brace up for a five-match Test series.

Cheteshwar Pujara, Stuart Binny Hit Fifties as Indian Batsmen Enjoy Outing vs Derbyshire

Cheteshwar Pujara, Stuart Binny Hit Fifties as Indian Batsmen Enjoy Outing vs Derbyshire

Stuart Binny and Cheteshwar Pujara led the way with fluent half centuries as India ended day two of their three-day tour game versus Derbyshire at 341/6, enjoying a useful day of batting practice before the first Test begins at Nottingham on July 9...
Read more

Who holds the balance of power in world football?

Who holds the balance of power in world football?

Brazil's World Cup has been played in the style that so many hoped for once football's showpiece was awarded to the country regarded as the home of the game's free spirits....
Read more

Neymar Hopes James Rodriguez's 'Good Run Ends' Against Brazil

Neymar Hopes James Rodriguez's 'Good Run Ends' Against Brazil

Neymar has lavished praise on James Rodriguez, saying he hopes the Colombian playmaker's stunning World Cup form ends against Brazil Friday...
Read more

Musical Superstars to wow audience at FIFA World Cup Final

Musical Superstars to wow audience at FIFA World Cup Final

The Final Match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ will be preceded by a spectacular musical show, with the superstar line-up of artists for the Closing Ceremony now announced. Taking centre.....
Read more

Low's Germany face acid test against old rivals France

Low's Germany face acid test against old rivals France

Under-fire Germany face rejuvenated France in Friday's FIFA World Cup™ quarter-final at Rio de Janeiro's iconic Maracana stadium in a mouth-watering clash of two European powerhouses...
Read more

Wimbledon 2014: Title Favourite Maria Sharapova Suffers 4th Round Exit

Wimbledon 2014: Title Favourite Maria Sharapova Suffers 4th Round Exit

Maria Sharapova suffered more Wimbledon heartache as the French Open champion crashed to a shock 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 6-4 defeat against Germany's Angelique Kerber in the fourth round on Tuesday...
Read more

Wimbledon: Australia's Wildcard Entrant Nick Kyrgios Knocks Rafael Nadal Out in 4th Round

Wimbledon: Australia's Wildcard Entrant Nick Kyrgios Knocks Rafael Nadal Out in 4th Round
Australia's world number 144 Nick Kyrgios caused one of the greatest Wimbledon sensations on Tuesday when he sent world number one and 14-time Grand Slam title winner Rafael Nadal crashing to a shock defeat...
Read more

India in England 2014: Virat Kohli Says He Doesn't Need to Prove Anything

India in England 2014: Virat Kohli Says He Doesn't Need to Prove Anything

He has seen success across all three formats during the last few years which has elevated him to the status of the team's 'Numero Uno' batsman but Virat Kohli feels that there comes a point in someone's career when one doesn't feel an....
Read more

Indian Bowlers Struggle Again as Derbyshire Pile up 326/5

Indian Bowlers Struggle Again as Derbyshire Pile up 326/5

Billy Godleman (67 not out of 159 balls, 8x4s) and 17-year-old Harvey Hossein (53 not out of 89 balls, 8x4s) were at the crease at the end of opening day's play as Derbyshire took full toll of a poor Indian attack on Day One of the tourist's second warm-up game ahead of the first Test against England....