Cup force with us now, says ton-up Strauss

England captain Andrew Strauss said his side's sensational tie with India proved they were a World Cup force to be reckoned with after his superb century so nearly saw the visitors to victory. England, chasing what would have been a new World Cup winning total batting second of 339, finished on 338 for eight in reply to co-hosts India's 338 all out at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, with Strauss making 158.

His was the first World Cup hundred by an England captain and the highest World Cup score by any England batsman, surpassing Dennis Amiss's 137 against India at Lord's in the competition's inaugural fixture back in 1975.

England's performance was an improvement upon their lacklustre six-wicket opening win over the Netherlands, where Strauss made 88.

"Coming into this game after the Holland performance, it was a great bounce-back and showed everyone around the tournament that we're going to be a force to be reckoned with," said Strauss.

When Ian Bell (69) and Strauss, who put on 170 for the third wicket, fell in successive balls to left-arm quick Zaheer Khan, the match swung back the way of India, who'd earlier seen cricket great Sachin Tendulkar become the first player to score five World Cup hundreds.

England had a poor batting powerplay towards the finish, losing four wickets for 25 runs in five overs.

And it needed tailenders Graeme Swann and Ajmal Shazhad to secure only the fourth tie in World Cup history, as 13 runs came off the final over.

This was the match a World Cup full of lopsided early encounters desperately needed and Strauss said: "We've got to celebrate the fact it was an unbelievable game of cricket -- probably the best advert for the 50-over format you could possibly get."

Strauss has now scored five of his six ODI hundreds in the past two years.

But he was in no doubt Sunday's innings was the best of the lot.

"Given the importance of the game, against India in India in the World Cup, it was obviously crucial one of our players went on and got a big score.

"It was an innings I'm very proud of. It would have been great to have been not out at the end and seen the boys home.

"It was my best one-day knock."

Asked what he told his players during the interval between innings, Strauss replied: "I said 'Lads, that is an unbelievably flat wicket -- we can chase this."

"It was my best one-day knock."

Asked what he told his players during the interval between innings, Strauss replied: "I said 'Lads, that is an unbelievably flat wicket -- we can chase this."

However, he was left lamenting England's poor powerplay performance, saying: "We got ourselves in a position at 41 or 42 overs where we just needed to have a good powerplay, and we were there.

"But these powerplays can affect you both ways -- and unfortunately, it affected us in the negative way.

"Then in the end, we did pretty well to scramble a tie out of it.

"There were some great performances on both sides.

"When we take stock of this game we'll probably both say: 'Look, we've got a point' -- which is an important point -- and go on and play better as the tournament goes on."

England, India in dramatic World Cup tie

ENGLAND captain Andrew Strauss said it had been a "privilege" to play in a dramatic World Cup tie with India yesterday.

India racked up a big 338 with Sachin Tendulkar hitting 120, but England came out firing. Strauss led the way with a composed 158 and Ian Bell hit 69.

With victory in sight, England slumped from 281-2 to 289-6, with Zaheer Khan taking three of the wickets, and the match appeared to be heading India’s way until a late flourish from England’s tail-enders tied the scores.

Strauss said he had mixed emotions after the nail-biting end to the game in Bangalore. "We were in a great position to win the game after 41, 42 overs. We had a shocking power play and from that stage onwards India were favourites to win the game. Ultimately it’s just been a great game of cricket, there’s no doubt.… Great advert for the 50-over format. In some ways we’re happy, in some ways we’re distraught."

But he said he felt "privileged to have played in a game like that".

Strauss brushed off fears that England would be tired amid their exhausting schedule, which included an Ashes contest in Australia.

"In this format there’s a lot of time to recover between games. We’re not tired at this stage. We’re excited about what’s to come."

Handed the man-of-the-match award for his knock of 158, he said: "It’s the best innings I’ve played and hopefully there’s more to come."

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni praised Khan for bringing India back into the contest by removing Bell, Strauss and Paul Collingwood in quick succession.

"The way they were going, I think they got off to a very good start, I think Andrew (Strauss) batted really well. There was a time where it seemed like they were going to chase the score in 48, 49 overs," he said.

"I think the partnership were just two wickets down and the way both the batsmen were batting, it was getting pretty difficult for the bowlers.

"Zaheer came in to bowl a really good spell and brought us back into the game."

He said he believed a score of 338 would be enough to win the game. "I think so because if 338 is not enough then every game you will have to look to score maybe 350 or 360 runs."

Said Khan: "I felt the wicket got better later on and Strauss obviously batted damn well to put pressure on us and it was a cliffhanger until the end. A win would have helped here but a tie is a also a good thing for the team. We’ve got some points out of this game."

Pakistan vs srilanka world cup 2011 srilankan Team is stronger than Pakistan Prediction is Pakistan vs Srilankan Team will win the Match

Pakistani cricket Team

COLOMBO: In an important clash of Group A, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will lock horns today at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo for the first time in a world cup match since their meeting at 1992 World Cup, which Pakistan eventually won.

Sri Lankan team

Records heavily favor Pakistan over their sub continent rivals as Sri Lanka have never defeated Pakistan in a world cup match. Pakistan and Sri Lanka have faced off each other in 120 One Day International matches so far where Pakistan enjoy a clear lead by 70-46, three matches ended with no result while one match resulted in a tie.

In the sub-continent, the two teams have played 65 matches, out of which Pakistan have won 34, Sri Lanka 29, while two matches failed to produce any result.

Sri Lanka world champion

On the World Cup stage, Pakistan have an absolute edge over Sri Lanka as they have won all the six matches played between the two quality teams of sub continent.

Muttiah Muralitharan

Shahid Afridi

Shoaib Akhtar

Ajax Cape Towm midfielder Thulani Serero is set to return to Holland to try his luck with a second spell at Ajax Amsterdam next month.

Serero and Sameehg Doutie trained with the Dutch team last year but were told to return to the Urban Warriors to improve some aspects of their game.

The Soweto-born midfielder is to return to Amsterdam after being recommended by Ajax Cape Town’s former technical director, and now assistant coach at the Amsterdam team, Hennie Spijkerman.

Ajax Cape Town coach Foppe de Haan confirmed that Ajax Amsterdam coach Frank de Boer has expressed interest to have another look at Serero next month.



"Hennie Spijkerman, who was here with us last year, has said good things about Serero, and Frank de Boer insisted on having a look at him again before the end of this season,” De Haan says.

“The idea is for him to go back to Holland in March and stay one week with Ajax Amsterdam. He deserves to play in Europe and we will look at other options if not Ajax Amsterdam.”

De Haan says even though Serero has played well this season, there are still a few things he needs to do to improve in his game.


“Even though he is yet to be the best player he can be, he has shown great qualities for making it in Europe. He is still learning and needs to improve a few things, like his finishing.

“I was happy to see him scoring two goals on Saturday – but he should have scored many goals this season.”

Montella doesn't feel like caretaker as Adriano goes AWOL

Adriano flamengo

ROME (Reuters) - New AS Roma coach Vincenzo Montella said he did not feel like a caretaker on his first full day in charge on Tuesday but striker Adriano immediately tested his mettle by not turning up for training.

Former striker and youth-team boss Montella, whose first game in charge is at Bologna on Wednesday, signed a contract until the end of the season after Claudio Ranieri quit on Sunday following the team's 4-3 loss at Genoa.

Adriano flamengo

"I don't feel like a caretaker," Montella told his first news conference, aware of media reports linking Roma fan Carlo Ancelotti with the job if his Chelsea side continue to stutter.

"At the same time, the rumours don't annoy me. To tell you the truth, I'm not annoyed that people are talking about Ancelotti, a person who I look up to a lot."

Adriano flamengo

Montella, nicknamed the "little aeroplane" for his goal celebration, spent most of his latter years at Roma as a substitute and showed he has not lost his famous sense of humour.

"I reckon I've been on more benches in Serie A than many coaches, so I've got a bit of experience," he chuckled.

Adriano flamengo

Adriano's failure to report back to Italy as scheduled after spending the last few weeks in Brazil recovering from a broken arm was no laughing matter, however.

Adriano flamengo

The striker quit Inter Milan to return to Brazil two years ago because of personal problems and Roma knew they were taking a risk bringing him back to Serie A.

Agent Gilmar Rinaldi told Italian media: "Only he knows what he wants to do."

Newcastle Linked with Shock Adrian

Adrian Mutu

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has Andy Carroll and Joey Barton – neither strangers to controversy but he looks to be interested in going one step further in his acquisition of football bad-boys, after he was inked with ex-Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu.

Adrian Mutu

The Fiorentina forward had his Blues contract swiftly cancelled in 2004 when he tested positive for cocaine, but the Metro newspaper reports Pardew has made enquiries. And, believe it or not, the Romanian is still only 32.

Adrian Mutu

Last summer it was Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Aguero. The previous window it was Sergio Canales and, er, Jermaine Beckford. But the player named as the one fans are most likely to get sick of hearing in transfer rumours has today been named (by FanHouse) as David Luiz.

Adrian Mutu

The latest, according to the Sun, is that Chelsea have offered £23 million plus Nemanja Matic for the Benfica defender, but the Portuguese club are unwilling to go below £30 million. Fair enough too.

Adrian Mutu

Adrian Mutu

Adrian Mutu

The official website for European football Milan maintain lead with Chievo victory

AC Milan's Serie A lead remains three points after SSC Napoli responded to their victory at AC Chievo Verona by beating Calcio Catania, on a day when AS Roma lost 4-3 to Genoa CFC

A 2-1 win at AC Chievo Verona briefly took AC Milan five points clear at the Serie A summit before SSC Napoli sealed a success of their own to reclaim second place and cut the Rossoneri's lead to three points.Milan had Pato to thank for the late goal (82) that secured their 16th league victory after Gelson Fernandes (61) had cancelled out Robinho's 25th-minute opener, but Napoli replied with their fourth league win in five matches when Juan Camilo Zúñiga struck (25) to lift the Partenopei above FC Internazionale Milano.

S.S. Lazio lie two points behind Inter after Hernanes (6) scored the only goal of their game against basement club AS Bari, while city rivals AS Roma are down to eighth place after squandering a three-goal lead to lose 4-3 at Genoa CFC. Phillippe Mexès (6), Nicolás Burdisso (16) and Francesco Totti (56) put the visitors in apparent control before two goals apiece from Rodrigo Palacio (52, 74) and substitute Alberto Paloschi (68, 85) completed a remarkable comeback.


Elsewhere, sixth-placed Juventus were also shocked, going down 2-0 at US Lecce, and Parma FC drew 2-2 with AC Cesena. ACF Fiorentina and Udinese Calcio were held to goalless home draws by UC Sampdoria and Brescia Calcio respectively.

Trumbo, Wood in running at first for Angels

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — As Kendry Morales continues rehabilitation after breaking his leg last season, two power hitters with limited major league experience are in the running to be the Angels' opening day first baseman.

Mark Trumbo, one of the most intriguing players in camp, and Brandon Wood, coming off a disappointing showing, can carve out a regular role with a strong spring, manager Mike Scioscia said Tuesday.Trumbo hit 36 home runs with 122 RBIs at Triple-A Salt Lake in 2010, giving him 120 career minor-league homers in the Angels organization.

"Mark's first step is to carve a spot out on our roster and show that he's ready to contribute and play in our league and then, hopefully, win some at bats," Scioscia said. "He's on our depth chart in a number of places."

Scioscia did not close the door on Trumbo playing in the outfield. Trumbo appeared in eight games with the Angels last season but went just one-for-15. Primarily a first baseman, he played 24 games in the outfield for Salt Lake last year.

"In theory, when you have a guy with a bigger swing, the entire maintenance of maintaining that swing is to play," said Scioscia, adding that a hitter with a big swing doesn't necessarily have to receive 400 or 500 at bats per season, but "it's a difficult role for anybody, especially guys with bigger swings."

I never told Hussey to retire: Greg Chappell

Mike Hussey

Australian selector Greg Chappell insists he has not advised Mike Hussey to retire, labelling any such claim as "untrue".

Mike Hussey

Hussey was livid at national selectors when he was told he was too much of a risk to take to the World Cup due to recent surgery on his hamstring.

Greg Chappell

The 35-year-old repeatedly stated he would have been fit for Australia's second group match and proved that to be correct with a strong training session with Western Australia on Sunday.

Greg Chappell

Such was Hussey's fitness, he was even selected for WA's current Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania, only to be withdrawn when higher powers at Cricket Australia intervened.

Greg Chappell

Chappell met with Hussey in Perth earlier this month, in which it is understood Hussey was told that his days in international ranks were numbered.