India-Eng to play 5-Test series in future
Mumbai: India and England, who have normally engaged in three or four-Test rubbers prior to the upcoming best-of-five series from July 9, have inked an agreement to stick to this format in future contests, too, according to Cricket Board Secretary Sanjay Patel. “It will be a five-Test series (at home and away) against England and four-match rubbers against Australia. Both England and Australia will play four Test series against us (home and away) in the next eight-year cycle (from 2015-2023),” said Patel at an interaction with mediapersons here on Tuesday. The new FTP agreements and MOUs have been inked by all the 10 full Test-playing members of the revamped International Cricket Council at its annual meeting in Melbourne recently, said Patel. (PTI)
Kapil pins hopes on India pacers
Mumbai: Although India were thrashed 4-0 in their last tour to England, former captain Kapil Dev is of the opinion that if the current set of batsmen deliver big, the bowling attack, even without Zaheer Khan, is capable of complementing them in the five-Test series starting on July 9. “This team looks much stronger, but it’s not going to be easy. Let anybody say whatever they want to say. It’s going to be tough. If the batsmen survive (bat well) this time, our bowlers would do much better and I have a little more hope if (off-spinner Ravichandran) Ashwin or (left-arm spinner Ravindra) Jadeja come back (to form) and start bowling well outside India,” the former all-rounder said on Tuesday. The 1983 World Cup-winning skipper exuded confidence in the abilities of pacers Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami to use the favourable conditions for seam bowling in England and said the attack would become more potent if lanky speedster Ishant Sharma performed well as the pace spearhead. (PTI)
Barca praise Suarez for apology
MADRID: Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta has praised Luis Suarez for “acknowledging his mistake” after the Uruguay forward bit Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup finals. Barca are one of a number of clubs linked with a possible move for the 27-year-old Liverpool player, who was expelled from the competition and banned for Uruguay’s next nine competitive matches and from any involvement in football for four months. After initially denying that he bit Chiellini, Suarez issued a carefully-worded statement on Monday admitting his offence and vowing there would be no repeat. “From my point of view, Luis Suarez had the character and the humility to recognise a mistake,” Zubizarreta said at the presentation of Barca’s new midfielder Ivan Rakitic on Tuesday. “Obviously, he made a serious error but often we stick blindly to a position and in this case that didn’t happen,” added the former Barca and Spain goalkeeper. “If you don’t admit you have made a mistake you will never be able to improve.” Quizzed on whether Barca were looking to sign Suarez, Zubizarreta added: “As of now, Luis Suarez is a Liverpool player and that is the reality. Everyone knows that he is an excellent player, but also that he is tied to Liverpool.” (Reuters)
Groin tear likely ends de Jong’s WCup
RIO DE JANEIRO: Netherlands midfielder Nigel de Jong’s World Cup appears to be over after tests confirmed he has a tear in his groin muscle and will be sidelined for two to four weeks. The Dutch football association said on Tuesday that an MRI scan revealed the injury, almost certainly ruling one of the Dutch team’s top performers out of the tournament. The 29-year-old AC Milan midfielder limped off the field in the ninth minute of the Netherlands’ 2-1 comeback win over Mexico on Sunday in the second round. After the match, Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal said the injury looked serious and that De Jong’s absence would be a ”blood-letting” for the team. In his first reaction, De Jong tweeted: ”Devastated with the news about my injury. Sadly enough this is part of the sport as well. Will work hard on my recovery now and keep hope.” (AP)