Sachintendulkar recieves the order of Australia

Sachintendulkar recieves the order of AustraliaNew Delhi: Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar added another feather to his already crowded cap as he was conferred the membership of the Order of Australia, an honour “rarely” awarded to non-Australians, on Tuesday.
The talismanic right-hander was presented with the Order by Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government and Minister for the Arts - Simon Crean - and became the second Indian with this honour after former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee.

Speaking to the media Tendulkar hailed the spirit of the Aussies who according to him are ‘fierce competitors’. He said that the three and a half months he spent in Australia during his early days changed him as a cricketer.

“Three and a half months changed me completely and I was ready to face any attack in the world,” said Tendulkar.

Earlier during her visit to India last month, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard had announced that the iconic Indian cricketer would be conferred the membership of the Order of Australia.

Narrating his most memorable trip to Australia, the Little Master said, “The most Memorable trip of Australia was when I was invited by Sir Don Bradman on his 90th birthday.”

Tendulkar said that he was in the middle of a camp when he received the invitation and the BCCI agreed to send him for 3-4 days to Australia where he met the Australian legend.

Tendulkar on a funny note also told the media about Sir Don’s reaction when he asked him why his average was just 99.94. “Come on, its (99.94) not bad for a 90-year-old man,” Bradman told him.

The batting genius also spoke about how the Aussie spectators gave him a warm reception whenever he went in to bat.

“Whenever I went to bat there, everybody gave me a standing ovation. I laughed at times because they all thought it would be my last trip,” he said.

Talking about the upcoming series between India and Australia, Tendulkar said that according to him, both the sides will play competitive cricket. The Master Blaster also thanked the Prime Minister and all the Australians for the honour.

Tendulkar is not the first cricketer to be conferred the Order of Australia, as in 2009, West Indies legend Brian Lara had also been made an honorary member.

Another West Indies legend, Clive Lloyd, is an Honorary Officer in the Order of Australia, having been conferred the award way back in 1985.

The right-handed Tendulkar, considered the finest batsman in contemporary cricket, has 15,533 runs in 190 Tests besides a mammoth 18,426 runs in 463 ODIs.

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Yuvraj set to return to Test ranks after almost a year

Yuvraj set to return to Test ranks after almost a year.

Mumbai: Yuvraj Singh is all set to regain his spot in the Indian Test squad when the new national selection panel, headed by Sandeep Patil, sits down on Monday to pick the team for the series-opener against England at Ahmedabad from November 15-19.

Though skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has said that the left-handed batsman was the best judge of his fitness for the rigours of Test cricket after having undergone treatment for cancer, it looks unlikely that the selectors will leave him out of the squad.

Yuvraj came back into the Indian team that flopped in the Twenty20 World Championship in Sri Lanka and then struck a double century for North Zone against Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy tie at Hyderabad, his re-entry into first class cricket.

Chosen for India A against the England cricketers in the tourists opening three-day warm-up game at the Brabourne Stadium here, Yuvraj scored a fine 59 with seven fours and four sixes and then grabbed a career-best first-class haul of five wickets.

Yuvraj last played a Test match against the West Indies last year in Kolkata.

In all probability, he would come into the squad in place of S Badrinath who had taken the spot of the retired VVS Laxman.

Yuvraj`s likely competitor in the playing XI, Suresh Raina, too is expected to retain his position though he looked unconvincing against the England pace attack when leading India A at the Cricket Club of India. He made 20 and 19 not out in the drawn game.

Raina had one fifty and two single digit scores in the two-Test rubber against New Zealand at home. But for a 78 in the opening match of the away series he played against England, Raina was a total failure, and also bagged a pair in the fourth and final Test.

The rest of the squad members, barring surprise selection Piyush Chawla, are expected to retain their places. Chawla, who had last played a Test in 2008 against South Africa at Kanpur, was a surprise choice by Srikkanth and co. but sat in the reserves during the two-Test rubber against the Kiwis.

It could be a toss-up between Chawla and Harbhajan Singh who was recalled for the World Twenty20 championships for the third slow bowler`s slot.

Ajinkya Rahane is likely to be the third opener alongside regulars Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir while the middle order picks would be Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, Cheteshwar Pujara and the duo of Yuvraj and Raina along with Dhoni to prop up the latter order.

Pace picks are expected to be Zaheer Khan, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma, who were in the squad against New Zealand, with the bowling attack completed by spin twins R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha, supported by Harbhajan or Chawla.

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Uttar Pradesh vs Delhi Live Score: Ranji Trophy, Day 4

 At lunch Delhi 308/7, lead by 140 runs. (Sehwag 105*, Ishant 1*).

 Delhi 303/7, Pradeep Sangwan is the latest wicket to fall. He scored 21. (Sehwag 101*)
 Delhi 303/6, Sehwag has completed his century off 146 deliveries with 18 hits to the fence. Clichéd it may sound but Raina dropped the match when he floored Sehwag's catch on 70.
Sehwag scores century.
Sehwag hits one straight down the ground for 4. Reaches 99*
Delhi 297/6, lead by 129 runs. Sewage hits three boundaries in one over and is now batting on 95.

 By the way Virat Kohli and Pradeep Sangwan are celebrating their birthdays today! Kohli turns 24 and Sangwan 2Sehwag dropped by Raina at slip on 70! He is playing a cautious innings here. Showing a lot of patience. Has anyone ever seen him play like this before?

Score Delhi 268/6, lead by 100 against UP. (Sehwag 69* Sangwan 17*)

 Delhi extend their lead by 91 runs with 4 wickets in hand.

Score  After 1st hour on Day 4, Delhi 259/6 (Sehwag 66* Sangwan 13*)
 Sehwag is using the opportunity perfectly. Looks set to score a ton if he gets support from other end. Playing some fantastic shots here against UP. Time is ripe for him to end any speculation about his place in the Test team. This knock will help him get into his grooves.

Score  Delhi 253/6 (Sehwag 6 Delhi struggling at 237/6, just 69 runs ahead with 4 wickets remaining.

 Sehwag has completed his fifty off 75 deliveries with 10 hits to the boundary. Good news for Delhi and Team India. Not so good for England 
Delhi 226/6: If you are supporting Delhi then it’s not going to please you to know that they have lost two early wickets today morning. Mithun Manhas departs after scoring 65 while Sumit Narwal failed to score getting out for nought. Any good news? Sehwag is still in the middle.After 3 days of play, UP look to be a far superior side. Delhi only better on paper. Hope better team wins today.

Suresh Raina and Praveen Kumar scored half-centuries as Uttar Pradesh took a healthy 168-run lead over Delhi before their bowlers took four crucial Delhi wickets to give them a chance to go for an outright win.

At the end of Day 3, Delhi were fighting on 197/4. Manhas was batting on 63 while Sehwag was unbeaten on 21 when umpires decided to call off the match early.

Delhi were leading by 29 runs with 6 wickets in hand when umpires decided to end 3rd day’s play due to bad light.

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Cricket : Updates and Fun: UP vs Delhi Live Updates: Ranji Trophy, Day 3

Cricket : Updates and Fun: UP vs Delhi Live Updates: Ranji Trophy, Day 3: ate: Sehwag playing a scratchy innings against UP. He is on 9 (22b). Is it due to injury? Will he be selected for 1st test against Eng...

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UP vs Delhi Live Updates: Ranji Trophy, Day 3

ate: Sehwag playing a scratchy innings against UP. He is on 9 (22b). Is it due to injury? Will he be selected for 1st test against Eng?

Update: Delhi: 169/4, Delhi in the lead now. Manhas scores fluent 50 with 8 fours. Manhas 52*, Sehwag 6*

Update: Sehwag looking absolutely fine now, no sign of pain, batting on 5 off 10 balls

Update: Delhi 146/4, Bist out for 14! Imtiaz gets hiswicket. In comes Virender Sehwag.


TEA REPORT

Delhi started their second innings on a negative note as they lost opener Unmukt Chand for a first ball duck. Delhi were 6/1 at that stage.

Chand, who opened the innings in the absence of injured Virender Sehwag, was trapped in front of the wickets by the wily Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Gambhir and Virat Kohli then did the repairing job perfectly, put on a well-paced 70-run stand. But left-arm spinner Ali Murtaza had the former caught by wicketkeeper Amir Khan. Gambhir’s 63-ball knock consisted of 4 boundaries.

Kohli, as always, looked to be in good touch and seemed to put up a big score which could have helped his side save the match. He and Mithun Manhas tried to resurrect the innings with a 33-run partnership. But Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled a perfect outswinger to induce an edge which was neatly taken by wicketkeeper Amir Khan.

At tea, Delhi were 120/3. Manhas was playing on 22* while Punit Bist was on 0*. Delhi were trailing by 48 runs with 7 wickets in hand. If Sehwag does not come out to bat in the innings, this is Delhi’s last recognised pair
Update: At tea Delhi 120/3 trailing UP by 48 runs. Mithun 22*, Bist 0*

Update: Delhi 109/3, Virat Kohli out for 43! Bhuvneshwar had him caught behind by keeper Khan.

Update: Delhi 100/2. Kohli 41*, Manhas 12*

Update: Delhi 76/2, Gautam Gambhir departs for 47. Left arm spinner Ali Murtaza gets Gambhir who scored 47 off 63 balls with 4 fours and a six. Mithun Manhas is the new man in.

Update: 1 hr after lunch: Delhi: 62/1(Gambhir 40*, Kohli 16*)

Update: Delhi 42/1, Gautam Gambhir (31) and Virat Kohli (9) playing cautious cricket against some probing swing bowling of Praveen & Bhuvnesh.

Update: Virender Sehwag has not come out to bat for Delhi. Speculations are that he is injured but nobody knows the gravity of the injury.

Update: Delhi: 6/1, First wicket for UP! Unmukt Chand removed for a duck. Bhuvneshwar Kumar draws first blood.

LUNCH REPORT

Suresh Raina and Praveen Kumar scored two contrasting fifties as Uttar Pradesh took a healthy lead of 168 runs over Delhi at lunch on Day 3 of the Group B Ranji Trophy encounter at Ghaziabad on Sunday.

Uttar Pradesh were bowled out for 403 at the stroke of lunch with Praveen Kumar remaining unbeaten on an entertaining 51. His knock was laced with 5 fours and 2 sixes.

Resuming on 292/6 Uttar Pradesh scored 111 runs in the morning session on Day 3 with the loss of the last four wickets.

Raina, meanwhile, made a compact 55 before being dismissed by Sumit Narwal. He looked very compact from the outset of day two. Unlike Saturday when he was totally in defensive mood, on Sunday he played his shots whenever loose balls were offered by the Delhi bowlers.

After his dismissal Praveen started to use the long handle with good effect. He took a special liking for left-arm spinner Vikas Misra, hoicking him for two straight sixes. The last wicket pair put on 38 runs for the hosts which helped them take a first innings lead of 168 runs.

Ashish Nehra was the pick of the bowlers for Delhi today as he took 3 wickets out of four, giving away 28 runs in

Update 14: Lunch taken after UP wrapped up for 403. UP added 111 in the morning session while losing 4 wickets. Raina 55, PK 51*

Update 13: Uttar Pradesh all out for 403 in their first innings. Take lead of 168 runs.

Update 12: UP 402/9, Praveen Kumar scores a quick 50 off just 56 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes. The home side now leading by 167 runs.

Update 11: Uttar Pradesh 400/9. Praveen 48*, Imtiaz 10*

Update 10: UP 395/9. The last wicket pair of Praveen Kumar & Imtiaz Ahmed have stitched an unbeaten stand of 30 runs.

Update 9: UP 365/9, Suresh Raina departs after playing a compact knock of 55 off 112 balls. Praveen Kumar 23* (off 22 balls).

Update 8: UP 356/8, lead Delhi by 121. Raina 54*, Praveen 15*

Update 7: UP skipper Suresh Raina completes his 50 off 106 balls including 8 fours.

Update 6: UP 335/8, Delhi pacers are on top. Ishant and Nehra bowling with a lot of venom. They look desperate to finish UP innings.

Update 5: UP 323/8 Another wicket falls. Ali Murtaza goes for 8. Nehra adds another wicket to his kitty.

Update 4: UP 323/7 Classical cover drive by Raina off Ishant Sharma. He reaches 37. Looking compact against the Delhi bowlers.

Update 3: All 3 results are possible in this match. If UP extend their lead to around 200 and then bowl Delhi out cheaply, they can win. If Delhi bowl UP out quickly today and bat well, they can press for a win. And of both the teams bat well, match will end in a draw.

Update 2: Suresh Raina hits two fours to reach 31* off 91 balls. On Saturday he played very slow. Let's see how he progresses today. Will he break free?

Update1: UP 305/7, Delhi have picked up an early wicket as Ashish Nehra removed wicketkeeper Amir Khan for 9.
 

Welcome to the third day of the Round 1 Ranji Trophy fixture between Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.

Uttar Pradesh ended the Day 2 at 292/6. They lead by 57 runs with 4 wickets in hand. Delhi bowled quiet well in the last session. Raina was batting on 19* off 70 balls and was patient curbing his natural instincts considering wickets were tumbling at the other end. The last session fetched 47 runs for the Uttar Pradesh team.

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