Sachin Tendulkar greatest batsman to have played cricket: Dennis Lillee

" He (Sachin)is the greatest player and batsman to have ever played. He just amazes me on many counts, his eye for the game, hunger for the game and continued success," said Dennis Lillee. (TOI Photo)

CHENNAI: Australian fast-bowling great Dennis Lillee has described Sachin Tendulkar as the greatest batsman to have ever played cricket while admiring the iconic Indian's hunger for the game despite achieving unparalleled success.

"Sachin is a very humble man. He is the greatest player and batsman to have ever played. He just amazes me on many counts, his eye for the game, hunger for the game and continued success," said the 62-year-old Lillee, who bids adieu to the MRF Pace Foundation after 25 years of service.

Lillee felt a bit embarrassed now in the thought that he had rejected Tendukar's ambition to become a fast bowler in the late 1980s but said he did the game of cricket a "big favour" by doing so.

"I actually feel very embarrassed because I rejected him as a fast bowler," Lillee said recalling his first meeting with Tendulkar when the batsman came to the MRF Pace Foundation with an ambition to become a fast bowler.

"I think I did him and the game of cricket a favour. I am just joking, but I will never forget (the incident)," he said.

Lillee, then the MRF Pace Foundation's coaching director, advised a young Tendulkar to focus on his batting instead of bowling.

"When he came back a year later he was just 15 years or so. I was there behind the nets. The first ball Sachin faced he hit it behind the bowler for a four. Sachin flicked the next ball for a four as well. The bowlers were not able to get Sachin and he was hitting them out of the park," said Lillee.

"When he was still batting with about 48 runs or so from 12 balls, I asked (the then head coach) TA Sekar who is this boy. Sekar laughed and replied you should know him, he is the boy whom you rejected when he wanted to become a fast bowler," he added.

Lillee said it was his fortune to have spotted Tendulkar before he made his foray into international cricket.

"I was fortunate enough to see him before he made it to Test cricket and lucky enough to recognise him as the world's best," he said.

Asked about the fast bowling talents he witnessed during his stint at the MRF Foundation, Lillee rated Zaheer Khan as the best, just ahead of cricketer-turned-match referee Javagal Srinath.

"To me number one is Zaheer Khan and number two is Srinath. As for Venkatesh Prasad I had always thought that he is going to be a Test player," he said.

"Irfan (Pathan), R P Singh and S Sreesanth were promising but sometimes I used to be disappointed with Munaf (Patel). Munaf is one bowler who used to bowl at 150 plus but someone had suggested him to slow down. To me he had some natural gifts. Not many people are bestowed with such attributes."

Lillee also said that he was never on the same page with the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI).

The Australian said that he loves to do things his way and that might be a reason why the BCCI never utilised his knowledge in the best possible manner.

"It was disappointing for me personally. Got to remember that I have the same relationship with the Cricket Australia too. I do not do anything unless I do them my way. I do not want other people pushing things on me," Lillee insisted.

resource:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/top-stories/Sachin-Tendulkar-greatest-batsman-to-have-played-cricket-Dennis-Lillee/articleshow/14409570.cms

Poised Sharapova crowned queen of Roland Garros

          

    PARIS (Reuters) - Maria Sharapova was crowned the new queen of Roland Garros after she kept her poise to outwit and outpower diminutive Italian Sara Errani 6-3 6-2 to complete her collection of grand slam trophies on Saturday.

Despite the one-sided scoreline, Italian Errani troubled Sharapova with some cute volleys, sliced forehands, daring dropshots but found the Russian to be an insurmountable obstacle.
With Errani standing at just 1.64 metres, the statuesque Russian used her 24 cms advantage and wider wingspan to great effect as she chased down everything the Italian could throw at her.
She wrapped up victory when Errani ended a prolonged rally by dumping a backhand into the net, allowing Sharapova to become the 10th woman to complete a career grand slam after she added the Paris title to her triumphs at Wimbledon (2004), U.S. Open (2006) and Australian Open (2008).
The French Open win capped a remarkable comeback for Sharapova after many thought her career was all but over when she underwent shoulder surgery in 2008.
Having waited four years to climb back into the grand slam winner's circle, it was little wonder the 25-year-old dropped to her knees and covered her face in disbelief in her moment of triumph.
But this was no time for the queen of women's tennis, who will also climb back to the top of the rankings on Monday, to hide her face.
A beaming Sharapova, still on her knees, tilted her head skywards and lapped up the applause from the hollering fans with outstretched arms.
Even when the on-court announcer accidentally asked the crowd to cheer for "runner-up Maria Sharapova", the smile could not be wiped off her face.
MULTI-LINGUAL SHARAPOVA
Errani, who had been left sobbing after her remarkable fortnight ended one victory short, pumped her arms as if to say "Yes, Yes, Yes, I am actually the champion".
During the 89-minute contest though, there was only one winner.
"It's a magnificent moment in my career. I'm really speechless. I have had such a journey to get to this stage," Sharapova told the crowd as she showed off her multi-lingual skills by speaking in English, French, Spanish and Russian during her victory speech.
"It took me many years to get to this stage, eight years ago was my breakthrough.
"I'm so happy to share this moment with you all. I cannot wait to be back. To be here and win this, even if it was my only grand slam, it would be just as special as if it was my fourth."
If Errani needed any reminder about the tall order she faced on Saturday, all she had to do was to look up at Sharapova as the Russian towered over her while they stood together at the net during the official pre-match photograph.
Even Martina Navratilova had called it a "bad match-up" and on paper it certainly was.
Sharapova was the winner of three grand slam titles while Errani had never reached a major final before. In fact before this year, the 25-year-old from Bologna had won only one match at Roland Garros.
Predictions of a mis-match certainly did not seem wide off the mark during the opening exchanges.
Errani, bidding to become the lowest women's seed at 21 to win the title in the professional era, was in danger of suffering a whitewash when Sharapova sprinted to a 4-0 lead within 15 minutes.
But just when the fans thought they were about to witness the first blowout since Steffi Graf beat Natasha Zvereva 6-0 6-0 in the 1988 final, Errani started to produce the kind of shots that helped her to knock out three grand slam champions here.
She raised a huge roar in the stands when she broke Sharapova in the fifth game and then caught out the Russian with some cute angled volleys and delectable dropshots.
Errani also dragged Sharapova into rallys often extending to over 20 shots, and the Italian even managed to dodge two set points on her serve in the eighth game.
Sharapova smacked a service return into the net on the first and could only watch in wonder as Errani drilled a spectacular forehand winner on the next.
However, the Russian second seed was determined to live up to her top billing and won the set on the next game by belting a backhand winner down the line.
The second set started like the first, with Sharapova breaking before romping to a 4-1 lead.
But the Italian was determined not to go out without a fight and remained undaunted even when Sharapova brought up her first match point by hitting a brilliant forehand on the run.
She forced Sharapova into a forehand error to get back to deuce, then earned a break point by snaring Sharapova with a dropshot.
Sharapova hit back with a thunderbolt backhand winner and after seeing another matchpoint evaporate with yet another Errani dropshot, she brought up a third with an ace.
Read more:http://in.news.yahoo.com/sharapova-beats-errani-win-french-open-144757245--ten.html

5वीं बार शतरंज विश्‍व चैंपियन बने विश्‍वनाथन आनंद

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भारत के शतरंज खिलाड़ी विश्वनाथन आनंद पांचवी बार वर्ल्ड चैंपियन बन गए हैं। उन्होंने यह उपलब्धि इस्राइल के बोरिस गेलफांद को वर्ल्ड चेस चैंपियनशिप के रैपिड शतरंज टाइब्रेकर में 2-5, 1-5 से हराकर हासिल किया। पिछले चैंपियन विश्वनाथन और चैलेंजर बोरिस गेलफांद के बीच 6-6 से मुकाबला टाई हो गया था। इसके बाद रैपिड टाइब्रेकर के जरिए चैंपियन का फैसला किया गया।


रैपिड राउंड के आनंद माहिर खिलाड़ी:-

विश्व में चौथी वरीय प्राप्‍त आनंद को रैपिड राउंड का माहिर खिलाड़ी माना जाता है। बुधवार को खेले गए मुकाबले में उन्होंने अपनी इस कला का बखूबी इस्तेमाल किया। चार रैपिड बाजियों में से उन्होंने दूसरी बाजी जीतकर खिताब पर अपना कब्जा बरकरार रखा। टाईब्रेकर की पहली, तीसरी और चौथी बाजियां बराबरी पर छूटीं। इसतरह आनंद ने पांचवी बार विश्व चैंपियन बनने का गौरव हासिल कर लिया। इससे पहले आनंद 2000, 2007, 2008 और 2010 में भी शतरंज के वर्ल्ड चैंपियन का खिताब जीत चुके हैं।



आनंद को मिले आठ करोड़ 25 लाख रुपए:-

पांचवी बार विश्वचैंपियन बनने पर आनंद को लगभग आठ करोड 25 लाख रुपए की ईनामी राशि मिली है। इस जीत पर आनंद ने कहा 'मैं इस जीत से काफी खुश हूं, क्योंकि मैंने अपना खिताब बरकरार रखने में सफल रहा।' साथ ही उन्‍होंने गेलफांद के खेल की भी तारिफ की। आनंद ने कहा कि गेलफांद ने क्लासिकल के बाद रैपिड राउंड में भी मुझे जबरदस्त टक्कर दी।

Source file:-
http://www.amarujala.com/Sports/Other%20Sports/Viswanathan-Anand-became-the-fifth-time-World-champion-10949-6.html

Cancer survivor Yuvraj 'positive' about comeback

New Delhi, April 11: India's World Cup hero Yuvraj Singh on Wednesday vowed to return to cricket after recovering from a cancerous tumour, but was unable to set a timeline for his comeback.

"I want to see the Team India logo on my cap again," Yuvraj, 30, told a media conference after his return from the United States where he underwent chemotherapy treatment for a rare germ-cell tumour between his lungs.

"It will be a big achievement if I can play for India again. But it won't be easy and will take time. I can't say when I will return to the field."

"At this stage, it is more important for me to focus on my priority, and that is to get fit and stay healthy. But I am positive that I will play cricket again."

Yuvraj, a left-handed all-rounder who was named the man of the tournament after India's World Cup triumph in April last year, said he found it tough to watch cricket on TV during his treatment.

"I tried not to watch," he said. "It was so frustrating to sit before the TV and watch India play. It was painful to see that I was not on the field."

"But my family and friends helped me overcome what has been most difficult period of my life. It was so hard to believe that I had cancer, that an athlete like me could have cancer."

"I felt breathless and even spat blood sometimes. But I thought it will go away. It really hit me hard when I was told that I was suffering from cancer."

Thousands of well-wishers, politicians, team-mates and other sports personalities, including US cycling great Lance Armstrong, had sent messages of support to Yuvraj during his treatment.

"People like Armstrong are such an inspiration," Yuvraj said of the cyclist who overcame testicular cancer to win the Tour de France seven times.

Delhi-based oncologist Nitesh Rohatgi, who was part of the medical team treating Yuvraj, said the chemotherapy treatment had been successful and there was only a "3-4 percent" chance of a relapse.

"I can confirm the response from the chemotherapy has been very good," Rohatgi said at the same media conference. "He should be able to do light training in a few weeks."

"A lot will depend on his physical and mental strength if he is to make a serious comeback."

Yuvraj, known for his hard and clean hitting and tidy spin bowling, scored 362 runs and bagged 15 wickets in nine World Cup matches to play a key role in India's triumph at the event.

The all-rounder has not played competitive cricket since taking part in two home Tests against the West Indies in November.

Yuvraj has scored 8,051 runs in 274 one-dayers and 1,775 in 37 Tests since making his international debut in 2000.

Twin tons by Kohli and Gambhir set up India's win

Indian cricketers celebrate the dismissal of Kumar Sangakkara at Dhaka. (AFP/Getty Images)

Virat Kohli scored his second consecutive ton against Sri Lanka and shared a double century partnership with Gautam Gambhir before Irfan Pathan continued his good run on his most recent comeback as India defeated Sri Lanka by 50 runs tonight in the second match of the Asia Cup at Dhaka.

At the toss, India captain MS Dhoni said, "We are going through a transition phase, it is not a settled side, youngsters are still looking to seal places in the side, there is a lot of competition, which is good. It is good to have the experience of Sachin in the side." However, the team selection for this match raised more questions than answers as it was almost the same playing eleven who took the field in the just-concluded Commonwealth Bank Series. Ravindra Jadeja retained his place in the team despite his below-par performances in Australia; while the likes of Yusuf Pathan, Manoj Tiwary and the in-form Ashok Dinda sat out on the bench.

India and Sri Lanka last played each other in a high-scoring match in the Commonwealth Bank Series at Hobart two weeks back that India won riding on Kohli's 86-ball 133*. India needed to chase down the target of 321 inside 40 overs to earn a bonus point; but despite the inspired chase, they failed to make it to the finals after Sri Lanka defeated Australia in the last league match.

In this match, India were put into bat by Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene and had a bad start as they lost Sachin Tendulkar in the sixth over of the match when he pushed a high full toss to Jayawardene from the bowling of Suranga Lakmal. Tendulkar, who has now gone 33 innings without scoring his 100th international century, stood his ground as he wasn't sure if Jayawardene had taken a clean catch and if the delivery was also waist-high. However, replays indicated all was fine and Tendulkar had to make his way back to the dressing room.

But, Sri Lanka then had to wait for another 37 overs to get a breakthrough as Kohli and Gambhir added 205 runs for the second wicket as they rotated the strike well while also hitting the occasional boundary. Kohli, who was the pick of India's batsmen in Australia, continued with his good form as he scored a 120-ball 108 and he was given good company by Gambhir who made 100 from 118 balls as the pair weren't too troubled by either pace or spin.

Kohli and Gambhir both scored the 10th century of their ODI careers by taking singles off Nuwan Kulasekara in the 42nd over, but both were dismissed in the very next bowled by Farveez Maharoof as they attempted to step up the run rate. Gambhir was dropped by Dinesh Chandimal when he was on 36; and the southpaw made the most of the largesse and piled on the misery along with Kohli for the Sri Lankans.    Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir added 205 runs for the second wicket in India's innings. (AFP/Getty Images)

Dhoni and Suresh Raina then put the Sri Lankan bowling attack to the sword, as Jayawardene clearly missed the rested Lasith Malinga. Dhoni and Raina plundered 78 runs from the last 7.1 overs of India's innings to swell the total and put Sri Lanka under pressure in the second half of the match. The India captain hit six boundaries and a massive six in his 26-ball 46*, while Raina seemed to be back to his best on the flat tracks of the sub-continent as he smashed his way to an unbeaten 30 from just 17 balls. Maharoof (2-57) was the most successful Sri Lankan bowlers, while S Prasanna was the most economical with figures of 9-0-45-0 as India ended with 304-3 in 50 overs.

Sri Lanka's run chase suffered an early setback when Pathan, who was the most successful of India's bowlers with 4-32, had the in-form Tillakaratne Dilshan caught off a long hop delivery by Kohli at midwicket. The experienced pair of Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara then consolidated Sri Lanka's innings as they got the chase back on track with their 93-run partnership for the second wicket in just over 14 overs.

Jayawardene, in particular took the attack to India's bowlers; especially Praveen Kumar, Vinay Kumar and Raina as he hit 10 boundaries and two sixes in his 59-ball 78 before Irfan struck for the second time when he had Sri Lanka's skipper caught behind by Dhoni to give India the much-needed breakthrough. At the time of Jayawardene's dismissal, Sri Lanka was 124 for 2 in the 19th over and were in control of the run chase. Dinesh Chandimal had a terrific CB Series with the bat, but he only made 13 in this match before the carrom delivery from R Ashwin held its line and struck the middle stump as the batsman came down the crease.

Sangakkara and Lahiru Thirimanne gave Sri Lanka a glimmer of hope with their 44-run partnership for the fourth wicket, but Ashwin dismissed both the batsmen in the 36th over of the innings to put India firmly in the driver's seat and on the road to victory. Sangakkara hit only two boundaries and a six in his 87-ball 65, but rotated the strike well as he kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Sri Lanka then kept losing wickets at regular intervals with Vinay Kumar striking off consecutive deliveries in the 39th over as he clean bowled Nuwan Kulasekara and then Kohli took a spectacular catch as Chamara Kapugedara was out for a golden duck. Pathan took his third wicket when he clean bowled Upul Tharanga and finished the match when Prasanna holed out to Sachin Tendulkar as Sri Lanka was bowled out for 254 in 45.1 overs.

Sri Lanka's second match of the tournament is against Pakistan at the same ground on Thursday afternoon.