Former skipper Allan Border says rankings do not give Australia any advantage in Indian conditions.
When a former Australian captain is in Delhi 48 hours before the third one-day International at Feroz Shah Kotla, how can cricket be far behind? Spanked by 99 runs in the second ODI in Nagpur Wednesday night -- it could easily have been more - Allan Border was at the end of a fierce media query at a function in the capital on Thursday evening.
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Border is in Delhi as the brand ambassador of the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon. Even at 54, one of Australia's most successful captain, says he is all geared up to "run 21 kilometres" of the fledgling marathon event.
"I think I will have to take part in the race for the elderly," Border quipped before continuing, "I have run this half marathon event before, in 1995 back home in Australia. I took double the time of the athletes."
"Yes, it's been a long time but I have been preparing for this event for some time now. I am not an active cricket player any more, did play some beach cricket recently but for exercise and keeping fit, nothing is as good as jogging," Border said.
Running may be Border's new fancy but as they say, you can take a player out of cricket but never take cricket out of him.
"Playing beach cricket with my old buddies, Dean Jones, Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson keep me with the game. I have my sons, 25-year-old Dean and 13-year-old Lochland who have taken up this game, so I want to be fit enough to feature in a match where all three of us will be playing."
From marathon to cricket. Will the seven-match series between India and Australia identify the number one side in the world?
Says Border, "I don't really get the ranking system and how it works. Australia have won five major ICC tournaments in-a-row and they should be given more weight than any bilateral series.
"Having said that, India play fantastic cricket and under MS Dhoni, they are very aggressive and have the right attitude a team needs to have for winning. I rate Dhoni very highly alongwith some of the other attacking batsmen they have got, Suresh Raina, Gautam Gambhir and my favourite, Yuvraj Singh."
"India are going to be favorites in this series because they are playing at home and can use the conditions to their advantage. Just like Nagpur, when they put a 350-plus target, they batted Australia out. As much as I would like my country to win, I think India will come out on top.
"But having said that, Ricky Ponting has built a fantastic side after losing some great players and no one should take his team lightly. I think we can replace all but Shane Warne for he did a tremendous job for our country. Nathan Hauritz is playing the ODIs well but he still has a thing or two to learn about Test cricket," said Border.
And as for the competition between Sachin Tendulkar and Ponting, both of whom have gone past his run-mark in Tests?
"Oh, both are fantastic batsmen, and will have gone miles past my record by the time they finish. Sachin is an icon having lasted 20 years in the game. That sort of longevity is an inspiration to all around him. He is nearing 14000 runs in Tests so I am not sure where Ponting will reach.
"Before the Ashes, we thought he was ready to hang up his boots in another couple of years but now he is eyeing another Ashes tour, so who knows. But beating Sachin's tally wherever Ponting finishes, is not going to be easy at all," said Border.
BCCI mum on player-photographer fracas
The BCCI keep mum on the fracas featuring a few junior India players and lensmen before the second day-night ODI at Nagpur.
"We don't have any plans to talk to the team management. If there is any change in this status, we will let you know," said a spokesperson for the BCCI when contacted on the matter.
News photographers and young India players Virat Kohli, Amit Mishra and Praveen Kumar had an altercation near the boundary line following protests by the lensmen that the knocking about by the players near the rope was endangering their costly equipments.
The players did not heed to the photographers' request and continued to knock the ball around, much to the consternation of the shutterbugs who got into a verbal argument at the new VCA Stadium in Jamtha on the outskirts of the Orange City.
"Tendulkar must cut down on ODIs"
Sachin Tendulkar should cut down on his limited over appearances to prolong his Test career, feels former Aussie captain Allan Border.
"I have high esteem for Tendulkar and his achievements in international cricket. But I think, it would be better for him to appear in fewer limited over matches, including one-dayers.
"It would help him to prolong his Test career," Border said on Thursday.
Border, who made 11,174 runs for Australia from 156 Tests, feels Tendulkar's ability to handle pressure is the mantra behind his success in international cricket.
"Representing your country for 20 years in international arena is not a small achievement. There is always a lot of pressure on an international cricketer and I must say he ( (Tendulkar) has managed it beautifully," Border said.
Tendulkar, who has till date scored 12,773 runs from 159 Tests, since making his debut against Pakistan in Karachi way back in 1989.
"Like many others, his career was also disturbed by injuries. But even after many ups and downs, Tendulkar still has the same passion and love for the game," said Border.
"Tendulkar is a player who always looks for improvement. It would be very difficult for others to climb to his stature," the former left-handed batsman said.
Border also expects a keen contest between India and Australia in the ongoing seven-match ODI series, but feels the hosts have the momentum after Wednesday night's comprehensive win.
"India would have a slight edge"
"After thrashing Australia in the second match, India certainly has gained the momentum. But both the teams are evenly powerful and I expect a close finish, probably a 4-3," the 54-year-old Aussie said.
Riding on skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's breathtaking 107-ball 124, India crushed Australia by 99 runs to claw their way back into the series, which is now levelled at 1-1.
"India would have a slight edge because they know the environment. And it is always difficult to deal with so many injuries while playing such a long series. It's very important to keep the key players fit," Border said.
Australia's injury woes deepened when wicketkeeper Tim Paine was ruled out for the rest of the series after he broke his finger during the second ODI in Nagpur.
"The team (Australia) is still going though a transition period after retirements of players like Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist and Justin Langer. It is always difficult to fill the void," Border said.
He also lavished praise on India captain Dhoni for his leadership qualities.
"Dhoni is a aggressive captain and he has brought about that attitude in the squad. He is leading by example like what he did in the last match. He is also getting support from his team-mates," Border said.
I'm not finished yet, insists Lee
The Australian pace spearhead Brett Lee has no plans of cutting down on any formats of the game to prolong his career.
The wear and tear of the last 10 years have taken a toll on Lee's body but he is not ready to say goodbye any format of the game.
"I love Twenty20"
Lee said the focus now is to get his place back in the Australian Test squad but he was not planning to sacrifice ODIs or Twenty20 to achieve that.
"To constantly bowl 150 kmph for 10-15 years will obviously result in injuries but I am not finished yet. I am feeling fresh and still have lot more years of cricket left. I still love the game and have passion for the game," Lee said on Thursday.
"Any opportunity to play for your country is something special and as bowler I am certainly not complaining. I love to play all formats of the game. I love Twenty20, it is exciting but I am hungry as ever to get back in the Test team," he added.
The 33-year-old pacer said the injury sustained during the first ODI against India in Vadodara was unfortunate and he was hoping for a commendable performance in rest of the seven-match series to earn his place back in the Test side.
He also ruled out suggestions that playing in the Champions League just before the bilateral series had anything to do with his injury.
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"I don't think my injury has anything to do with Champions League. I wanted to play as much as possible, especially after bowling in the nets throughout the Ashes.
"The opportunity came up when we qualified for the Champions League last year. I was born in New South Wales so I am always ready to represent it whenever I get an opportunity.
But having said that playing for Australia definitely comes first," said Lee.
"It is unfortunate that I picked up a slight elbow niggle during the first ODI."
Incidentally, Australia skipper Ricky Ponting had earlier claimed that the inaugural Champions League has hindered his side's preparation for the series as three of his key players -- Lee, Nathan Hauritz and Doug Bollinger were busy playing for NSW in the cash-rich Twenty20 event.
Lee, however, refused to speculate on his availability for the third ODI here on Saturday.
"I will know whether I would be able to play only after tomorrow's training. I am not going to make any call today, but hope I will be there. I have not had much rest for the last 4 to 6 months, so it is bound to happen," he said.
After the thrilling win in the series opener, Australia slumped to a humiliating defeat in the second ODI on Wednesday, but Lee said it would be wrong to undermine the visitors as the series is still young.
Bierhoff defends Germany friendlies
Germany general manager Oliver Bierhoff has defended the national team's decision to stage two friendly matches next month.
Germany host Chile in Cologne on November 14 before meeting the Ivory Coast four days later in Gelsenkirchen - but the games attracted criticism from Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness.
Hoeness has questioned the point of staging such matches and has also asked Germany coach Joachim Low not to pick his club's young striker Thomas Muller in his squad, but Bierhoff has hit back.
"If we hadn't played these two internationals, then there would be only one single game in March before naming our World Cup squad," he said.
"That would have certainly raised a big debate."
Bierhoff and Hoeness have often had a frosty relationship with the latter keener than many Bundesliga managers to stick up for his club as a priority over the national team.
But Bierhoff says he has learnt to take what Hoeness says with a pinch of salt.
"I can remember the remarks that Jurgen Klinsmann was ruining German football when he was the national team coach, and soon afterwards, he was appointed as coach of FC Bayern," Bierhoff said in Sport Bild magazine.
"The views of Uli Hoeness tend to go from one extreme to the other. At one stage, he was predicting that Bayern would field all of the national team's players and now we are supposed to refrain from picking Thomas Muller."
Larsson says tearful goodbye
Striker Henrik Larsson bid an emotional farewell to football - admitting his decision to retire had left an "emptiness".
The 38-year-old took to the pitch for the final time in Helsingborg's 2-0 Allsvenska defeat to Djurgarden last night, bringing the curtain down on a career spanning two decades.
Larsson has been prolific during his time as a professional footballer, scoring over 300 goals during spells with Helsingborg, Feyenoord, Celtic, Barcelona and Manchester United.
He was also a vital member of the Swedish national team, making over 100 appearances in the blue and yellow shirt and helping them finish third at the 1994 World Cup.
It was a tearful Larsson who faced a standing ovation at Helsingborg's Olympia stadium last night.
And he admitted he found it difficult to keep his emotions in check as tributes from the likes of Sweden coach Lars Lagerback, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and international team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic were played at the ground.
"It really hits you when meet all this love," he said. "I'm normally quite a cool character but right now I feel like I could cry.
"It's huge to be able to end it on our home ground and it has to end some time.
"It's rubbish to end things this way (with a defeat) but you can't have everything in life."
Larsson was also moved by Helsingborg's decision to retire the number 17 shirt in his honour.
"It's a fantastic gesture by the club, to retire it for ever. I'm very moved," he said.
Larsson, who will not play in Helsingborg's final match of the domestic season at Elfsborg on Sunday, will now take time out to think over how best to fill the void left by his retirement.
He has already been linked with several coaching jobs, although he gave few hints as to what the future holds.
"I don't know if I have to go down to the employment agency and do certain things, but I have the luck and luxury to be able to say no to jobs which are offered to me," he added.
"But obviously there is an emptiness at present, and I need to fill that emptiness with something.
"I'm fortunate enough to have earned enough money to be able to sit back and not panic, but I have to do something. I can't just glide through the rest of life."
Giampaolo shown door by Siena
Struggling Siena have sacked coach Marco Giampaolo and appointed Marco Baroni as caretaker boss.
The Tuscan side lost 2-1 at Bologna yesterday, a result that marked their seventh defeat of the campaign.
Siena lie at the foot of the Serie A standings with five points and just one win from 10 games.
Two months have passed since the Bianconeri last tasted success, a 3-1 win at Cagliari.
A statement from the club read: "Siena announces it has dismissed Marco Giampaolo as head coach of the first team.
"The club wishes to thank Marco and his assistants for the work done up to now and wishes them the best of luck.
"Marco Baroni will guide the team and will be in charge of today's training session."
Giampaolo, who joined the Bianconeri in the summer of 2008, is the sixth coach to be sacked in Serie A this season.
Youth coach Baroni will guide the team in Sunday's game against Lazio.
Evans: Owen still a class act
Manchester United defender Jonny Evans believes Michael Owen is proving at Old Trafford he remains a class act.
Owen, a surprise signing from Newcastle in the summer, scored his third goal of the season in the Carling Cup victory against Barnsley at Oakwell.
It was a clinical finish as he foxed goalkeeper Luke Steele after he made the most of a delightful ball from Fabio.
Whether Owen, who started on the bench in the defeat by Liverpool, can win a recall to the England squad remains to be seen.
But Evans has no doubts at all about his team-mate's quality and said: "Every time Michael comes on he gets into really good positions.
"He changed the game a bit for us on Sunday. It was the first time we really looked like getting in behind Liverpool.
"It was good for him against Barnsley to get another goal. It was a great finish from him. He made it look easy by passing the ball into the corner."
Evans is also predicting a bright future for 18-year-old striker Danny Welbeck, who opened the scoring in the fifth minute.
Welbeck came off in the second half and is having a scan on the knee injury he suffered.
Evans said: "Danny is improving all the time and learning from the first team lads.
"He is a fantastic talent and can go all the way. He is so hard to play against. He has great skill as well."
Despite his night ending on a sour note it could not dampen Welbeck's mood of elation at securing a place in the last eight of the competition.
Welbeck scored the winner against Wolves in the third round and was part of the United side that lifted the trophy last season when they defeated Tottenham.
He said: "It is great to get further in the cups. I'm already looking forward to the quarter-finals. We'll certainly enjoy it and do our best.
"We controlled the game against Barnsley in the second half. The youngsters did well and the experienced players in the team helped us massively."
Raikkonen wants to exit on a high
A proud Kimi Raikkonen has vowed to end his career with Ferrari by giving the team and his fans something to remember this weekend.
Raikkonen, who makes way for Fernando Alonso next year, has as yet failed to secure himself a race seat for 2010, despite speculation continually linking him with a return to McLaren.
As far as the Finn is concerned, this year has been largely one to forget as he and the team have only occasionally shown glimpses of the form that netted them three of the four titles on offer in 2007 and 2008.
It is why Raikkonen is determined to go out on a high on Sunday in the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the spectacular Yas Marina circuit.
"It's time for me to say goodbye to the guys at Ferrari after three years together," remarked Raikkonen.
"I'm proud of the things we achieved, especially the drivers' title in 2007 and the constructors' title in the same year and in 2008.
"This season the car wasn't as competitive as we wanted, but at least we managed to win one race and we gained a certain amount of points.
"Let's hope we can conclude the season with something nice to be remembered, and as usual I'll give it everything to gain the best possible result.
"Hopefully it will be enough to regain the third place in the constructors' championship McLaren took over from us in Brazil."
But on a new track and with nothing on the line after Jenson Button and Brawn GP sealed the drivers' and constructor's crowns in Brazil 11 days ago, Raikkonen believes there maybe a surprise or two this weekend.
"As the two titles have gone and everything already decided, maybe there are certain drivers who will risk a little more," assessed Raikkonen.
"As far as the circuit is concerned, it's difficult to make any predictions because we're racing there for the first time.
"We can see the organisers have done some great work and the circuit seems to me very interesting and challenging.
"There will be a very special challenge given the fact we'll start the race in sunlight and it will end under artificial lights.
"That will definitely add some suspense."
BMW keen to sign off in style
BMW Sauber boss Mario Theissen is adamant there will be no lack of motivation this weekend despite the sadness certain to be felt at the team's final race.
After four seasons in Formula One, BMW bow out on Sunday come the conclusion of the sport's first day-to-night race around the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi.
The German manufacturing giants announced earlier this season they would be pulling out of F1 at the end of this year for financial reasons.
There is hope Sauber will be competing in 2010, although it would now appear they require another team to pull out for them to take up a place on the grid.
Assessing the weekend ahead, and his team's time in F1, Theissen said: "We travel to Abu Dhabi with mixed feelings.
"The eight points we collected in Brazil allowed us to move up a place in the constructors' championship, and we will be highly motivated again at the final race of the season.
"We are looking forward to racing at this new Formula One venue and can't wait to experience the atmosphere at the marina circuit.
"However, there will of course also be a fair amount of sadness within the team, after all this will be our 70th and final race.
"With the exception of our fourth and unfortunately final season, I'm more than satisfied with what we have achieved since 2006.
"In the first three years after the team was founded, we met - and even exceeded - all the aims we set ourselves.
"We recorded two podium finishes in our first season, and in our second we established ourselves as the third-strongest team in the championship.
"This was the year in which Robert (Kubica) suffered his horrific crash in Montreal, although a year later we enjoyed our greatest success.
"From the moment Robert and Nick (Heidfeld) crossed the finish line in quick succession to record a one-two result, there was no stopping us.
"We remained part of a three-way battle for the title almost until the end of the season. We notched up 11 podium finishes in total in 2008, and our reliability was excellent."
This year has been a disaster by comparison, one which has hastened their exit, although Kubica's second-place finish in Brazil 10 days ago at least erased some of the pain that has been felt.
"Of course, the whole team is disappointed we have been unable to build on our success in 2009 as we had hoped to have a say in the title race," added Theissen.
"But we have never thrown in the towel, even after BMW announced its withdrawal from Formula One, which shows the strong character of our team.
"I hope our successor will continue along this successful path in Formula One."
Serena confirmed as Number One
Serena Williams was thrilled to end a year which included victories in the Australian Open and Wimbledon on top spot.
Dinara Safina was forced to withdraw from Sony Ericsson Championships, leaving Serena Williams to end 2009 as the world's number one.
The 23-year-old Russian was serving at 1-1 in the opening set against Serbia's Jelena Jankovic today when she had to retire.
Safina's place at the Australian Open could now be in doubt due to the injury as she said she will have to take at least six weeks off from tennis.
"I've been having pain since (winning) Portoroz (in July). I've been using anti-inflammatories to play with this pain for about three months," she said.
The Russian was replaced in the tournament by compatriot Vera Zvonareva, who will play the remaining two White Group opponents Safina was supposed to play, beginning with Caroline Wozniacki tomorrow.
Serena defeated Venus 5-7 6-4 7-6 (7/4) in two hours and 41 minutes for her second win in two days after her defeat of Svetlana Kuznetsova yesterday.
It was Venus' second loss of the tournament, following her defeat by Elena Dementieva.
Earlier, Denmark's Wozniacki defeated Belarus' Victoria Azarenka 1-6 6-4 7-5.
The contest lasted two minutes short of three hours as Wozniacki won her first match of the tournament, inflicting Azarenka's first loss after her defeat of Jankovic yesterday.
"2009 has been a truly memorable season for me during which I enjoyed some of the biggest wins of my career," Williams said.
"Capturing the year-end world number one ranking is a huge accomplishment for me and I am thrilled that all the hard work has paid off."
