Twenty20 cricket in Olympics

Olympic Games are the world's largest sports festival and it has been conducted for every 4 years. Last year (2012) Olympic festival was held in London. The next contest will happen in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016.

Cricket is one of the most popular games and it has worldwide fans. It was played in 1900 Paris Olympics for the first time. In that match England defeated France and won gold medal. After that the Olympic committee removed the game from Olympics games list. Now the International Cricket Council (ICC) has been trying to add cricket in Olympics.

Every year Olympic committee attempts to add new games, in order to this expert’s demand cricket.  International Olympic Committee was accepted the suggestion but still they don’t take any action about this. So ICC once again suggest Twenty20 match for Olympics. 

Former international players and referees also recommended the same to Olympic Committee. If everything goes well, 20-over cricket will add in 2024 Olympics.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni makes a new record

In the ongoing test match between India and Australia Mahendra Singh Dhoni took 224 runs with 24 fours and 6 sixes. He achieved this run in 265 balls. He gave a power pack performance and led the team to success against Australia. Indian Captain Dhoni makes a new record in this match.

• Highest score by a wicketkeeper-captain.
• Highest score by an Indian wicketkeeper.
• Highest score by an Indian captain.
• Third highest score ever by a wicketkeeper.

His last 10 scores in Tests: 73, 62, 48, 5, 29, 6, 52, 0, 99, 224.

MS Dhoni hits double century against Australia

The ongoing Test match against Australia, Indian captain MS Dhoni hits double century. Similarly Kohli makes century and India has a strong presence against Australia. At the end of yesterdays match Indian team scored 515 for the loss of 8 wickets.

In the first innings, Australia took 380 runs for 10 wicket loss. Captain Michael Clarke gave their best and scored 130 runs. Ashwin took 7 wickets for India. Then Indian team started their first innings on 23/2/2013(Saturday). At the end of the day India took 182 runs for 3 wickets loss.

3^rd day match between the two teams was started yesterday. Sachin Tendulkar(71) and Virat Kohli(50) continued with the game. Tendulkar was dismissed in 81 runs by Nathan Lyon. After Sachin, Captain MS Dhoni landed to the field. Kohli-Dhoni pair played responsibly. Virat Kohli played well and provides support to the captain. Dhoni gave a stunning performance and India crossed 250 runs in 75 over.

During lunch break India took 263 runs for 4 wicket loss. After the break both of them continued with the match and Dhoni finished his half century. Then Kohli scored a century and India crossed 300 runs. Kohli got out by Nathan Lyon in 107 runs. Then Jadeja joins with the captain and lost his wicket in 16 runs. Next Ashwin entered to the field and got out by 3 runs. After Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh joins hands with Dhoni.

Dhoni gives an action play and touch 150 runs. Harbajan lost their wicket in 11 runs and Bhuvneshwar Kumar joins with captain. Dhoni gave a stunning performance and crosses double century. At the end of the day Dhoni took 206 runs and Bhuvneshwar Kumar took 16 runs and both of them not out. Indian team leading with 135 runs against Australia. The Indian team has a strong presence and it can give a severe crisis to Australian team.

100th test for Harbhajan Singh

First test match between India & Australia starts at 9.30 in the morning in MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk. This is the 100th match for Harbajan Singh and he is very excited. Till now he has played 99 Tests and he scores 2191 runs (lot 115, average 18.56, 2 percent, half century 9) and 408 wickets. He is the 10^th Indian player to play 100^th test. Harbajan Singh gave a media interaction about his 100^th test yesterday in Chennai.

He said, “I’m very happy to play my 100^th test. From the first match itself I well practiced and played for India. Till now I have the same mentality. Each and every match I did my best. I have made some mistakes in previous games because of my emotional feelings. I’m genuinely sorry for that. Ganguly and Anil Kumble are such a great players, I feel very proud to play with them. If we play well, it is easy to win Australia at the rate of 4-0. I’m going to expose my best in this series”.

Australia announces team for First Test against India

Michael Clark-led Australian cricket team is touring India to play 4-match Test series. The first Test match between the two teams is going to take place in Chepauk Stadium (Chennai) on 22th Feb to 26^th Feb. So the two teams have been engaged in intensive training.

Dhoni-led Indian team has been involved in a rigorous training in Chepauk stadium. India's opening batsman Gambhir was dropped from the team for test match due to his poor performance. Australian players also involved in training at the same place.

Australia announces 11 players for the First Test against India yesterday.

Australia: David Warner, Ed Cowan, Phillip Hughes, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke (c), Matthew Wade (wk), Moises Henriques, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon. 

Viswanathan Anand wins Grenke Chess Classic Trophy

India’s Viswanathan Anand won the champion ship in Grenke Chess Classic trophy. Grenke Chess Classic trophy was held at Baden- Baden (GERMANY). This series has 10 rounds and the last round was held yesterday in Germany. In this final round Viswanathan Anand met Arkadij Naidistch. Anand was playing with black pieces and won the match during 49^th move.

At the end of 10 rounds Anand scored 6.5 points and won the championship. Fabiano Caruana(6 points) from United States took second place. Georg Meier (5 points) from Germany took third place. Viswanathan Anand won this classic series after 5 years, last time he won the Linares series in 2008.

Azarenka beats Serena Williams in Qatar Open

Victoria Azarenka beat Serena Williams in Qatar Open on Sunday. Qatar Open tennis tournament was took place in Doha. In women’s single final number one player Serena Williams (U.S.) and secondary player Victoria Azarenka were collided.

In the first set Azarenka seized up Serena by 7-6. In second set, Azarenka lost it by 2-6. In the final set again she seized Serena by 6-3 and captured the trophy. Azarenka won the champion title for the second time in this series of 2012-2013.

Australia beat West Indies in Women's World Cup finals

ICC Women's World Cup cricket match was held in Mumbai. In the final match West Indies and Australian teams clashed. Australia has won the toss and chose batting. Rachael Haynes (52) and Jess Cameron (75) had made their half-centuries. Other players also played well. Finally Australia scored 259 runs with 7 wickets loss.

Then West Indies team started batting against Australia. From the starting itself West Indies players got struggled to face Australian bowlers. Finally they got 145 runs and loss all the wickets. So Australia won the match by 114 runs and won the World Cup for the 6th time.

Geoffrey Boycott criticizes Indian Cricket Team

In a recent interview Geoffrey boycott the former England opening batsman criticizes Indian bowling. He said that, “In a recent Test series England defeated India by 2-1. Australia also has a possibility to overtake India in the upcoming test. Indian bowling is very poor, even my mother too faces Indian bowling easily and my grandma also waiting in queue. If Australia would just play a bit well then they can easily win over the match against India.

He also added that, “In the last test match against England team, sometimes it was very pity to see Indian bating. Now Gautam Gambhir gets out of the team and sehwag return back to the team. We are eager to see Sachin’s century. It was interesting to hear that Sachin score century in Ranji trophy. But test match is totally different from Ranji so we have to wait and see how Sachin is going to face this match. Indian bowling is in a very weak condition. Harbajan Singh got a chance to play against Australia. His bowling is good but none of them doesn’t assure about it. Indian spinners are like cats, there is no threat from them. India must win the match otherwise crisis will take hold on India”.

Younis Khan and Asad Shafiq gives bad turn to South Africa

2^nd Test match between South Africa - Pakistan began in Cape Town on 14/2/2013. South Africa won the toss and chose fielding. Pakistan opening players Nasir Jamshed (3), Mohammed Hafeez (17), Azhar Ali (4) takes few runs subsequently and lost the game. Then Younis Khan and Asad Shafiq pair recovered the team from right side. South Africa players were very difficult to bring down the wicket of both players. Both of them played well and score century.

Just before the end of the first day, Younis Khan got out in 111 runs. Then Sarfraz Ahmed enters to the field. At the end of the first day, Pakistan scored 253 runs for the loss of 5 wickets. Sarfraz Ahmed (0) and Asad Shafiq (111) were in the field.

Second day match began yesterday. Asad Shafiq (111) and Sarfraz Ahmed (13) lost the game one by one. Then Tanveer Ahmed landed to the field and added 44 runs. Finally Pakistan lost the match by 338 runs. South African bowler Vernon Philander performed well and took 5 wickets.

Squads:

Pakistan Squad: Mohammed Hafeez, Nasir Jamshed, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan/ Mohammad Irfan/Rahat Ali.

South Africa Squad: Graeme Smith (capt), Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers (wk), Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Vernon Philander, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel.

Sri Lanka appoints Angelo Mathews as Captain

Angelo Mathews has been appointed as a new captain and Wicket-keeper Dinesh Chandimal has been appointed as vise-captain for Sri Lankan cricket team. In a recent series with Australia Mahila Jayawardene the previous captain for Sri Lanka announced his resignation from captainship. He said that, “I am going to concentrate on batting so that I am withdrawing from captain”.

So the chance is going to all-rounder Angelo Mathews. With this new change Sri Lankan cricket team going to play a home series against Bangladesh which includes 2 Tests, 3-day, and a T-20 match. Angelo Mathews has been appointed as a captain for Test and ODI matches. Vice-captain Dinesh Chandimal is going to act as a captain for T20 match.

First Test match will start on March 8 in Galle International Stadium. The squad features four uncapped players.

Test squad: Angelo Mathews (capt), Dinesh Chandimal (vice-capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dimuth Karunaratne, Ashen Silva, Kumar Sangakkara, Lahiru Thirimanne, Mahela Jayawardene, Kushal Janith Perera, Jeevan Mendis, Kithuruwan Vithanage, Ajantha Mendis, Suraj Randiv, Nuwan Kulasekara, Shaminda Eranga, Chanaka Welegedera, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera, Rangana Herath, Tharindu Kaushal.

India Test series will be a challenge - Michael Clarke

Australian cricket team came to India to play four-match Test series. First match will be conducted in Chennai. Australian captain Michael Clarke said that test series against India is the biggest challenge for his career. Last time Michael Clarke was able to score only 35 runs from 4 innings against India. It was his poor performance.

“Playing cricket in India is always a heavy challenge in my life. Each and every time we feel difficult to play in test series against India. Because of this our team has not been able to dominate India. It is a big challenge for us and other players also know that. To manage this situation we had sent some players in advance to India to observe the environment. Indian Cricket Team is one of the best team, still we are ready to face the challenge” Clarke said.

He also added that, “I know my performance was very poor in the last series. This time I had more practice and I have a confidence to manage the series. I had got some suggestions from experts so that I’m going to implement it in the upcoming series”.