We want to be kept in loop by IPL: SRK

Resenting the BCCI decision to terminate the contract of event management company IMG, Kolkata Knight Riders [Images ] owner Shah Rukh Khan [ Images ] on Tuesday said he wanted to be kept in the loop on all important decisions pertaining to the Indian Premier League [ Images ].

"These are all important decisions. All we want is to be kept in the loop. A lot of our sponsorship deals depend on the backbone of the IPL," he told reporters after an internal function of the franchisee here.

Conceding he had written a letter protesting against the cancellation of IMG's contract by the BCCI, the Bollywood star said all he wanted was to be kept informed about key decisions by the IPL.

The Bollywood actor and a few other franchisee owners have written letters to the BCCI bigwigs against the cancellation of the contract with the IMG which had been involved in the organisation of the event in the first two years, the first in India and this year's in South Africa [ Images ].

The BCCI terminated the relationship with the IMG after its members felt it was overcharging the Board for the services rendered.

In the first year it was paid close to Rs 43 crore and for the 2009 edition in SA the amount is close to Rs 33 crore, according to BCCI sources.

Meanwhile, the IPL's Governing Council is to meet on September 2 and all the office bearers of the BCCI are expected to attend it.

"The meeting is basically about the accounts for the 2009 edition of the IPL. But other matters can also come up for discussion," IPL sources said.

The termination of the relationship with the IMG is expected to come up at the meeting, especially in the light of the sports management group having threatened to drag the board to the courts.

Shah Rukh also said a new coach for the KKR outfit would be finalised by the middle or end of next month.

Eleven candidates, including seven foreigners, have been interviewed by the team management for the job that has become vacant following the sacking of John Buchanan [ Images ] who occupied the post in the first two years when the team performed dismally.

He also said that the captain for the third edition, to be held in March-April, would be decided only in ecember.

We have the team to get to number one: Harbhajan

The number one ranking in ODIs is well within the grasp, but, to attain it, India have to overcome a strong challenge from Sri Lanka [ Images ] and New Zealand [ Images ] in the tri-series later this month.

Ace off-spinner Harbhajan Singh [ Images ] though is optimistic that the team will triumph in Sri Lanka and emerge the top-ranked team in the 50-over format of the game.

If you look at the statistics you will agree, because since January 2008, India have been virtually unbeatable in ODIs, having beaten top sides like Australia [ Images ], New Zealand, Sri Lanka and West Indies [ Images ] in their own backyard.

What excites Harbhajan most about the upcoming tour to the island nation is the opportunity to catch with the legendary Muttiah Muralitharan [ Images ], who he says has helped him with regular tips.

Not that Harbhajan needs any help. Having claimed 330 wickets in 77 Tests, at an average 30.42, and 210 wickets in 189 ODIs, at 33.06, he is among the leading spinners in the game.

In an exclusive conversation with Chief Correspondent Harish Kotian, the off-spinner discusses Mahendra Singh Dhoni's [ Images ] style of captaincy, why ODI cricket is suffering and what makes India the top side in the world.

India has made it to number two in one-dayers and now has a chance to take the top ranking in Sri Lanka. Taking that huge leap to number two in the last two seasons was not easy, but don't you think taking that one final step to No 1 is going to be more difficult?

I am sure it will not be difficult. We have the team to get to number one. We have been there and we have been very close to it. Now we just have to play well and not look at whether we want to be number one or two, but win all the games that we play; I think that is more important. If we do that then we will automatically become number one.

The tri-series in Sri Lanka will also be an interesting battle between the leading spinners in the game today. Sri Lanka has Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis [ Images ]; India have you as the frontline spinner, while New Zealand has Daniel Vettori [ Images ]. How do you look at it?

It is always very nice to play against or with Muralitharan. I have interacted a lot with him; whenever I meet him we talk about bowling. It is good that we will meet up again and play against each other; it will be good to compete with each other. It also gives me another opportunity to interact with him and learn a few things about bowling and how he puts pressure on the batsmen. I am looking forward to playing in the tri-series in Sri Lanka.

Would you say the seeds of this successful Indian team were laid under Sourav Ganguly's [ Images ] captaincy? How much credit does he deserve for the achievement?

Sourav, obviously, should get credit for wherever we are today, because all this started under his captaincy. I think all the boys who played some part during this period, starting from Ganguly's captaincy till now, deserve the credit. They have contributed towards India's victories. It is a team sport and we should give credit to everyone, because picking a few guys and leaving out the rest will not be fair. I would say it was a collective effort; some player or the other has contributed at some time or the other.

What about Mahendra Singh Dhoni's style of captaincy? How was he able to bring out the best from every player in the last two seasons?

Dhoni is a very calm guy. He never tells anyone you have to do this or you have to do that. He tells everyone you know your game and I want you to play to the best of your ability. He always backs his players, whether seniors or juniors. Whenever a player needs his captain he is always there, especially for the young guys. It is always difficult whenever a new, young guy comes into the team, because he is a bit nervous; but Dhoni has done a great job with the youngsters by supporting everyone.

He has given everyone a free hand. He says do your best; do whatever you can that will help our team win the match. That is one great thing, I believe, Dhoni has done. He has given the players the responsibilities of performing at their best, whichever way they want to.

We have done well in Tests and ODIs last season, but what was striking was our failure in the Twenty20 [Images ] World Cup despite all our players having competed in the second season of the Indian Premier League [ Images ]. Was exhaustion a problem? What was the reason?

It is difficult to point out what exactly was the reason four our failure. We know we did not play as well as we wanted to in the Twenty20 World Cup, but these things are bound to happen. You can't really play well all the time; you will struggle at some stage or the other. But, unfortunately for us, our bad time came during the Twenty20 World Cup. I thought we had a team capable of winning the tournament but that didn't happen because we didn't perform.

You learn a lot even from failure; we also learnt a lot from our failure in the Twenty20 World Cup. That tournament is gone now and we are looking ahead to the future -- looking to win all the games we play.

With the popularity of Twenty20, people are saying Test cricket is dying. Test cricket has its hardcore fans while the young, or new fans, want Twenty20. Don't you think the popularity of One-Day Internationals is declining since the advent of Twenty20?

Yes, I agree that interest in One-Day Internationals is coming down. Even in the West Indies, when we were playing the ODI series, there was not much interest, which you otherwise see. The charm that we see in ODIs is clearly lesser than before. So, to protect this format, I think they need to do something about it.

Australia lost to India last year and now they have lost the Ashes. Would you say the Australian era of domination under Ricky Ponting [ Images ] is over?

I don't remember when they dominated last after the retirement of Shane Warne [ Images ] and Glenn McGrath. They only dominated when they had good wicket-taking bowlers. They are quite a reasonable side now and are losing a lot of matches; their time of domination finished long back. Australia are very much a beatable side nowadays.

What are your emotions when you enter a cricket field to play against Australia. Is it anger or pure passion that always sees you being charged up when playing against the Aussies?

Everyone says that Australia is the best team and they have beaten everyone around. There's no doubt that they were a good side and dominated for a few years. So when you play the best side in the world you want to perform to the best of your abilities. That is why I always want to do well against them.

I used to tell myself that this is the best team in the world and if you do well against them you will be recognised as a bowler everywhere.

They play tough cricket and they always put a lot of challenges ahead of them, so it is fun playing against them.

Have you spoken to Andrew Symonds [ Images ] after that Sydney [ Images ] Test match, perhaps during the IPL or elsewhere?

No, I have not spoken to him.

New Zealand opener Mark Richardson recently said Muttiah Muralitharan chucks the ball. Being a fellow off-spinner how do you react to his claims?

Who is Mark Richardson? Tomorrow someone else will stand up and say something else; we should not get so excited. Muralitharan is a great bowler and has taken a lot of wickets. These guys should think twice before saying something against a legend like Muralitharan who has achieved so much in the sport.

Just because Mark Richardson has played a couple of games it does not mean that he can say anything about Muralitharan.

Miandad orders green top at Gaddafi

Pakistan cricket batting advisor and former captain Javed Miandad [ Images ] has asked pitch curators to prepare a green and pacy surface at the Gaddafi Stadium [ Images ] to prepare batsmen for the bouncy South African wickets.

Miandad has ordered a new pitch with a tinge of green grass covering on it in order to give batsmen the feel of South African conditions where the ICC [ Images ] Champions Trophy [ Images ] is scheduled to commence from September 22.

"The idea is to get the batsmen to play on surfaces similar to those in South Africa [ Images ]. Cricket is all in the mind and if a player is mentally focused, he can succeed anywhere," Miandad said.

With the 10-day national conditioning camp for the Champions Trophy beginning from Tuesday (September 1), Miandad expressed hope that batsmen would be able to acclimatize well in South African conditions.

"The playing conditions and pitches at the Wanderers and Centurion grounds are conducive to pace bowling and our batsmen need to be prepared to cope with the conditions there," The Daily Times quoted Miandad, as saying.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had roped in Miandad as a batting advisor to the national squad after the batting order failed miserably during the Sri Lanka [ Images ] series.

Ibrahimovic opens Barcelona account

Zlatan Ibrahimovic [ Images ] scored with an acrobatic header on his La Liga debut to seal Barcelona's 3-0 win over Sporting Gijon as they opened their title defence in style on Monday.

The Sweden striker dived full length to nod in a deflected Daniel Alves [ Images ] cross in the 82nd minute after teenage striker Bojan Krkic [ Images ] and Mali international Seydou Keita [ Images ] had put the European champions 2-0 ahead at the break.

With Argentina forward Lionel Messi [ Images ] on international duty, coach Pep Guardiola started with Pedro Rodriguez on the right wing, Ibrahimovic at centre forward and Bojan on the left.

The 19-year-old popped up unmarked to nod in at the back post in the 18th minute after Keita flicked on Xavi's [ Images ] corner, and Keita doubled the lead just before halftime when he headed home an Alves cross.

The match had been put back due to Barca's European Super Cup match against Shakhtar Donetsk in Monaco on Friday, which they won 1-0 with a goal at the end of extra time, and Guardiola had complained many of the players were feeling the strain.

"I can't complain about anything the team did as everyone was making an effort and everyone was running," he told a news conference. "We controlled the match."

Bojan and Brazilian left back Maxwell, who with Ibrahimovic joined from Inter Milan in the close season, were both substituted with injuries in the second half.

Barca said on their website (www.fcbarcelona.cat) Bojan had damaged a left leg muscle and would be out of action for 15-20 days while Maxwell's left leg injury needed further assessment.

"It was a difficult match in Monaco with extra time and that could have made things hard for us tonight," Keita, who also headed against a post in the second half, said on Barca TV.

"We just want to take each match as it comes and if we can be as successful as last year so much the better," he added.

In other La Liga matches at the weekend, World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo [ Images ] converted a penalty to help Barca's arch-rivals Real Madrid [ Images ] beat Deportivo Coruna 3-2.

Atletico Madrid were humbled 3-0 at Malaga, Valencia beat visiting Sevilla 2-0, and Villarreal [ Images ] surrendered the lead to draw 1-1 at Osasuna.

We've delivered on promise: Mallya

A huge monkey off Force India's back, team chairman Vijay Mallya [ Images ] said the Formula One outfit has actually delivered on its promise of a podium finish one year before the 2010 deadline it had set.

"If you remember, we had promised to be among points in 2009 and be on the podium in 2010. So we have actually delivered on our podium promise in advance," Mallya told from Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium after Giancarlo Fisichella [ Images ] drove a fairytale race to finish second in the Belgian Grand Prix [ Images ] to score the team's first points.

After Fisichella grabbed the pole position on Saturday, Mallya had called it the most memorable day of his Formula One career.

Asked if he would like to change it now and call Sunday the most memorable day, Mallya said, "I don't think I can swap the days.

"To get the pole position was a huge achievement in itself, which will go down in the history (of Indian motorsports). Similarly, today's second place finish is also a momentous occasion which will go down in history."

Mallya took the occasion to scotch rumours about the team's financial health and said Force India was not short on resource.

"Our performance today proved that money alone cannot buy you success. We had a rather small budget but with the right kind of effort and direction, we have become a competitive side," Mallya said.

Akram keen on dual role with KKR

Pakistan former Test captain Wasim Akram [ Images ] is eyeing dual role of becoming a cricket consultant and bowling coach with the Kolkata Knight Riders [ Images ] in next year's Indian Premier League [ Images ].

Wasim who met KKR owner Shahrukh Khan [ Images ] and team's captain Saurav Ganguly [ Images ] on Sunday in Mumbai [ Images ] told Geo News channel from there that he had revealed his interest to both of them in the meeting.

"I met Shahrukh and Saurav Ganguly and had discussions with them in a very friendly atmosphere.

"I am not just looking at becoming the bowling coach for the KKR team but also to be their cricket consultant," Wasim said.

The former pacer, who is a commentator and TV show host, said he had conveyed to Shahrukh his interest to improve KKR's performance in the next IPL season.

"I will decide my future with the KKR in the next few days time but I am definitely interested in the job," he said.

Besides Wasim, the KKR management is also holding talks with former Indian and Kenyan team coach Sandeep Patil, the former New Zealand [ Images ] captain John Wright [ Images ] and South African Richard Pybus after two disappointing seasons in the IPL.

Diego nets twice in Juve win over Roma

New Juventus [ Images ] signing Diego stole the show in only his second Serie A start with two stunning goals in a 3-1 win at AS Roma on Sunday.

The Brazilian playmaker, signed from Werder Bremen [ Images ] in the close season, demonstrated why Juve fans hope he is the missing link to bridge the gap with champions Inter Milan this term.

"It's thanks to the environment at Juve, coach Ciro Ferrara, my team mates and the fans that I've settled in so well," Diego told Sky television.

Having produced flashes of brilliance in last weekend's 1-0 win over Chievo in Juve's league opener, Diego netted his first competitive goal for the club midway through the first half.

A mistake by defender Marco Cassetti allowed Diego to charge towards goal from the halfway line before outmuscling John Arne Riise in the box and scoring with the outside of his boot.

Roma's Daniele De Rossi equalised for the hosts 10 minutes later and although different, his goal was equally breathtaking.

With Juve debutant Felipe Melo [ Images ] busy arguing with the referee, Roma took a quick free kick and Italy [ Images ] midfielder De Rossi unleashed a dipping 30-metre strike which caught goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon slightly unawares.

RIFLING HOME

Diego was not to be outdone, however, and he ran on to Vincenzo Iaquinta's clever flick in the second half and bamboozled the Roma defence before rifling home.

Fellow Brazilian Felipe Melo, another big money buy from Fiorentina, sealed Roma's second league defeat with a fierce strike in injury time having struggled for much of the match.

Juve, who again left Alessandro Del Piero on the bench and hope to sign Lyon's Fabio Grosso on Monday, had a number of other good chances with Amauri striking a post.

In other games on Sunday, Roberto Donadoni's Napoli beat his former side Livorno 3-1 with new signing Fabio Quagliarella scoring his first two goals for his hometown club.

Fiorentina defeated Palermo 1-0 on a terrible pitch in Florence thanks to Stevan Jovetic's clever flick, while Sampdoria overcame Udinese 3-1, promoted Parma edged past Catania 2-1 and Genoa won 1-0 at Atalanta.

Former Inter striker Julio Cruz scored a penalty and tapped in to give Lazio a 2-1 victory at Chievo and Siena were 3-1 winners at Cagliari.

'Vettori is a thinker with a good understanding'

Former New Zealand [ Images ] cricketer Stephen Boock reckons that captain Daniel Vettori [ Images ] is one of the cleverest finger spinners to grace the cricketing world.

"Everyone knows what Dan bowls: little spinners that turn away [from the right-hander] or ones that skid through, that's the guts of it. There's no secrets in his armoury but the way he uses what he's got is the best I've seen," Boock told the Sunday Star-Times.

"What you've got to do is be able to read the wicket and work out what is about this wicket that will give me the best result. How fast should I bowl, how much effort should I put into turning he ball. Dan either does that naturally or by learning," he added.

Speaking after Vettori double feat of 3000 runs and 300 wickets, Boock said Vettori's intelligence as a bowler was without peer, as he possessed the ability to figure up the pitch in order to adjust his bowling pace and spin to get the best results, Stuff.co.nz reports.

"Dan's not a flamboyant player, but he's a clear thinker who has a good understanding of cricket and he will have no expectation that he will be treated as a movie star because that's not what he is: he's a spin bowler who works very hard," Boock said.

He further said that if Vettori keeps on playing for another four-five years, he could go beyond Sir Richard Hadlee as New Zealand's wicket-taker and could join Kapil Dev [ Images ].

Kirsten warns of India threat at Champions Trophy

India will recover quickly from their early exit at the Twenty20 [ Images ] World Cup and are certain to mount a serious challenge at the Champions Trophy [ Images ] in South Africa [ Images ] next month, coach Gary Kirsten said.

India have recalled Rahul Dravid to the one-day team for the first time in almost two years to bolster their batting on pacy South African pitches at the September 22-October 5 ICC [ Images ] Champions Trophy.

A young Indian batting unit struggled against short-pitched bowling in the Twenty20 World Cup in England [ Images ] in June.

"We have had a good run right from the tour of Australia [ Images ] and there is great team spirit, though the World Twenty20 was a setback," the former South Africa opener told reporters after the national team's training camp in Bangalore on Thursday.

"We are very positive and all of us want to move on," Kirsten said.

India, who will also participate in a tri-series in Sri Lanka [ Images ] that featuring New Zealand [ Images ] from September 8-14, have not lost a one-day series in the past year following a surprise tri-series victory in Australia last February.

"We take pride in our consistency over a long period. It is a quality team and the players are mentally fresh and look good physically too," Kirsten said.

"It is good to have Rahul Dravid [ Images ] back in the team. He adds massive value to the team," Kirsten said of the former captain, who is only the second Indian after Sachin Tendulkar [ Images ] to score over 10,000 runs in both Test and one-day forms.

Tendulkar has also returned after opting out of the one-day series in the West Indies [ Images ], which the tourists won 2-1 last month, but explosive opener Virender Sehwag [ Images ] will miss both tournaments after undergoing shoulder surgery.

Ishant Sharma [ Images ] will spearhead the five-man pace attack in the absence of experienced left-armer Zaheer Khan [ Images ], who has been ruled out of action until the end of the year after undergoing surgery on an injured shoulder.

Pietersen to miss T20 Champions League

England [ Images ] batsman Kevin Pietersen [ Images ], recuperating from surgery on his right Achilles heel, will miss the US $6 million Twenty20 [ Images ] Champions League [ Images ] in India from October 8 to 23.

Pietersen's name was missing from the 20-man list provided by his IPL franchise -- Bangalore Royal Challengers [ Images ] -- to the Champions League organisers on Thursday, according to a report in the Daily Telegraph.

The paper claimed Pietersen feared criticism from English authorities if he risked his fitness in the Champions League.

The flamboyant batsman, who missed almost half of the Ashes series against Australia [ Images ] because of surgery on his heel last month, will now have to wait until England's tour of South Africa [ Images ] in November to resume playing cricket.

Pietersen, who was bought by Vijay Mallya's [ Images ] IPL team Bangalore Royal Challengers for a whopping US $1.55 million, is believed to have aggravated the injury during the IPL in South Africa.

Paul Collingwood [ Images ], selected by the Delhi Daredevils [ Images ], has admitted he was still unsure if he would play in the tournament.

Sri Lanka amass huge lead over New Zealand

Sri Lanka [ Images ] seized control of the second Test against New Zealand [ Images ] on Friday as they reached 157 for two, a lead of 339 runs, at stumps on Day 3.

Spinners Rangana Herath and Muttiah Muralitharan [ Images ] combined to take six wickets in dismissing New Zealand for 234 on the third morning, putting the hosts on course for a series sweep.

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara [ Images ] gave his team another solid platform with an unbeaten 64 from 90 balls, a fluent innings that included seven fours and a six.

The left-hander shared an unbroken partnership of 68 with Mahela Jayawardene [ Images ], who scored 23 not out, before rain curtailed the day's play 12 overs early.

Tillakaratne Dilshan [ Images ] was the first casualty of the second innings, caught for 33 off spinner Jeetan Patel [ Images ].

Just before tea, opener Tharanga Paranavitana (34) was adjudged to have gloved an attempted sweep off Daniel Vettori [ Images ] and was given out caught behind.

New Zealand, trailing 0-1 in the two-game series, resumed on 159 for five before losing their remaining batsmen for 51 runs as Sri Lanka forged a formidable 182-run lead.

Off spinner Muralitharan claimed 3-71 from 25.4 overs and left-armer Herath took 3-70 from 34 overs.

Sri Lanka reached the lunch interval on two without loss in their second innings with both Dilshan and Tharanga Paranavitana on one not out.

Ross Taylor [ Images ] was New Zealand's top scorer with a three-hour 81 from 155 balls with 10 boundaries.

Brendon McCullum [ Images ] (18) was the first to fall in the morning as he edged Muralitharan to Mahela Jayawardene at slip, the former captain's 150th catch in Test cricket.

Herath then claimed the key scalp of Taylor, the right-hander edging behind.

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori rallied the visitors briefly with 23, helping his team to avoid the follow on, before Chamara Kapugedera [ Images ] held on to a juggling catch at short leg off part-time spinner Dilshan.

Herath and Muralitharan quickly mopped up the tail, with Jacob Oram [ Images ] out for 24 and Iain O'Brien lbw for four.

Sreesanth has Yorkshire in trouble

Team India discard S Sreesanth [ Images ] put Warwickshire on a strong platform, capturing four wickets for 36 runs, as Yorkshire were reduced to 100 for 7 at close on the second day of their four-day match.

Earlier, Warwickshire recovered from an early setback after losing four wickets for 53 runs to post 320 in their first innings in the LV County Championship.

Brief scores:

Warwickshire (1st innings): 320 (T R Ambrose 113, N M Carter 67 Kruis 3/68).

Yorkshire (1st innings): 100 for 7 (G L Brophy not out 28; Sreesanth 4/36).

US Open: Federer and Serena start out against wildcards

World number one Roger Federer [ Images ] will begin his bid to win a record sixth consecutive US Open [ Images ] against American wildcard Devin Britton after the draw was made on Thursday.

The Swiss, who won the French Open [ Images ] and Wimbledon [ Images ] titles this year to set a record of 15 Grand Slam singles victories, is scheduled to play fourth seed Novak Djokovic [ Images ] of Serbia in the semi-finals.

If Federer wins the title he will match Bill Tilden's six straight victories in the US tennis championships during the 1920s before the event was open to professionals.

Women's champion Serena Williams [ Images ] begins her campaign against American wildcard Alexa Glatch.

"I am still playing very well," Federer said at the draw. "I played great in Cincinnati [where he won the Masters Series event last weekend] and I hope things can go well at the U.S. Open."

Second seed Andy Murray [ Images ], runner-up last year and chasing his first Grand Slam crown, could face third seed Rafael Nadal [ Images ] in the semi-finals.

NADAL OPENER

Scot Murray will begin against Latvian Ernests Gulbis while Spaniard Nadal, who missed Wimbledon because of tendinitis in his knees, takes on Frenchman Richard Gasquet in one of the highlights of round one.

Fourth seed Djokovic will play Croatian Ivan Ljubicic and former champion Andy Roddick [ Images ], the leading American seed at number five, takes on Bjorn Phau of Germany [ Images ] in round one.

Djokovic and Roddick are seeded to face each other in the quarter-finals.

In the women's event, Williams is seeded two behind world number one Dinara Safina [ Images ] and could face her sister Venus, the third seed, in the semi-finals.

Russian Safina, still chasing her first Grand Slam title, plays Australian wildcard Olivia Rogowska in the opening round while Venus takes on another Russian Vera Dushevina.

Former champion Maria Sharapova [ Images ], seeded 29, starts against Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova and could face fourth seed Elena Dementieva [ Images ] in round three.

Belgian former world number one Kim Clijsters [ Images ], who returned to the tour this month after a two-year layoff, will play Viktoriya Kutuzova of Ukraine in round one.

The 2005 champion could play Venus Williams [ Images ] in the fourth round.

The US Open begins on Monday.

Rafa and the US Open: An odd couple

Can Rafael Nadal win the US Open this year?

He is capable, for sure.

And he is desperate (read determined) as well, as the year's last Grand Slam happens to be the only major title that the Spaniard is yet to win.

Nadal admitted recently that winning his first US Open is not out of question.

"It's very special. I've won the other three, so if I win that it's going to be a complete cycle," he was quoted as saying.

But it is easier said than done, for there are a lot of factors working against the Spaniard.

A year which started on a bright note, with Nadal winning the Australian Open -- another major that had eluded him -- in dramatic manner over rival Roger Federer, witnessed the Spaniard dominate the first half, winning a plethora of clay court titles -- including big ones at Monte Carlo and Rome -- till he hit a roadblock (named Robin Soderling) at the French Open.

It has been a been a downhill since.

Bolt says he may take up long jump

World 100 and 200 metres champion Usain Bolt [ Images ] is also fixing his sights on the long jump.

"I definitely want to try the long jump," the triple Olympic [ Images ] gold medallist told a news conference on Thursday. "I think I would be a really good long jumper.

"I've messed around with the long jump since I've been at school and I'm definitely going to give it a try."

Long jump world record holder Mike Powell said last Friday that Jamaican Bolt could jump nine metres in the event.

Bolt won the 100 and 200 at this month's world championships in Berlin, breaking the world records in each event.

The Jamaican, who is due to run in the 100 and 4x100 relay at Zurich's Weltklasse meeting on Friday, said he has not yet discussed the long jump seriously with his coach or set a date for when he could take up the event.

"It's just a case of me wanting to try it," he said.

Bolt, who spent an hour at Zurich railway station at lunchtime signing around 3,000 autographs, said the recent success of Jamaican athletes in sprint events is because many had stayed at home to train rather than move to the United States.

"When you go to the States you get a lot of injuries because you have to run week after week," he said. "I have a good coach who understands this.

"The guys who are doing well are the ones who stayed in Jamaica, they can decide when they want to run."

'Mother of Judo' receives her gold 50 years on

The "Mother of Judo" waited 50 years to get the gold medal that was snatched from her in her first serious competition, a gender injustice that fuelled Rusty Kanokogi's winning crusade for women's judo in the Olympics [ Images ].

The gruff, plain talking Kanokogi who has received praise and recognition from the government of Japan [ Images ], the International Judo Federation and International Women's Hall of Fame, was denied the prize at a YMCA tournament for being a woman.

"This should never, never happen to a woman again in sports," Kanokogi said about the rage she felt back in 1959.

"It was a negative for a while but I turned it around into a positive. I started the manoeuvring for the recognition of women's judo and other sports. Basically it was encouragement," the 74-year-old said on the eve of last week's medal ceremony that rectified the wrong half a century later.

"If the medal had not been taken away from me, who knows? Women's judo could still be waiting to get into the Olympics."

The gender-equality fighter who is now battling a rare form of cancer was born Rena Glickman and grew up tough on the streets of Brooklyn's Coney Island when girls were not allowed to play most school sports.

Salman Khan interested in buying IPL franchise

Salman Khan [ Images ] could become the latest Bollywood superstar to join the Indian Premier League [ Images ] bandwagon, with the actor expressing interest in bidding for a franchise for the 2011 edition of the cash-rich event.

Salman met IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi [ Images ] on Wednesday and discussed the procedure to buy a team for the 2011 edition, which will see the addition of two more franchises.

Modi disclosed that Salman was in discussion with him on the matter for the last few months but they had a formal meeting only now.

"We were having a discussion for last few months but this is our first official meeting," Modi said.

Modi said although it was too early to say anything he felt the actor is a "serious buyer".

"He was interested to know what it takes to own a team, what's the process, when it will be initiated and what's the timeline for it. I think he is a serious buyer," Modi said.

Asked if he was interested in any particular existing team or a new one, Modi said "it's for a new team".

IPL is set to introduce two new teams in the 2011 season and the franchise may "cost over US $200-300 million".

Ar present, Shah Rukh Khan [ Images ] and Juhi Chawla [ Images ] (Kolkata Knight Riders [ Images ]), Preity Zinta [ Images ] (King's XI Punjab [ Images ]) and Shilpa Shetty [ Images ] (Rajasthan Royals [ Images ]) are associated with the high-profile Twenty20 [ Images ] cricket tournament.

Modi also disclosed that he had a long list of celebrities interested in buying a team in the IPL.

"We have large number of people interested in it with over 20 celebrities asking to become franchisees, although I don't want to name them," he said.

Modi also admitted that having a film star added to the glitter of the event.

"It does add to the spark (of the event)," he said.

Modi said the IPL organising committee will inform all the prospective buyers once it begins the bidding process.

'I haven't tried cut and pull shots as it hurts'

A day after meeting DDCA president Arun Jaitley [ Images ], Indian opener Virender Sehwag [ Images ] said that there are discrepencies in the selection process at the lower level and hoped that his suggestions to the Delhi [ Images ] administrators would be implemented soon.

"If you look at Indian team, I don't think there is any need to give any suggestions because it's the merit that matters. Whoever performs gets picked. There is never an instance where somebody has not performed and got picked," Sehwag said.

"It (unfair selections) happens at lower levels and I have given some suggestions to DDCA and I hope that my suggestions would be implemented soon and the results would be seen in near future," he added.

The Delhi opener had spearheaded a revolt against DDCA, accusing its sports committee of indulging in nepotism and corruption and his stand has been supported by senior players like Gautam Gambhir [ Images ], Ishant Sharma [ Images ] and Ashish Nehra [ Images ].

Team India Vice captain Yuvraj Singh [ Images ] also threw his weight behind Sehwag and supported his views on the selection process.

"Sehwag has raised a voice and everybody is with him and we have the highest hope. There were instances where I performed but was not picked. Such unfair practices hurt the careers of young cricketers and shatter their dreams.

"So I think the selection should be done keeping every player's performance in contention," he said.

Recovering from right shoulder injury, Sehwag said he would start playing again from the first week of September.

"I'm feeling a little better. I had been hitting only 10-15 balls and haven't tried cut and pull shots as it hurts," Sehwag said.

Meanwhile, on senior batsman Rahul Dravid's [ Images ] return to the one-day squad after a gap of nearly two years, Yuvraj said it would lend experience to the side and also help younger players in the team.

Out of reckoning Rohit Sharma [ Images ] said he was looking forward to the domestic season to improve his game and strive to get back into the national side.

Rohit also dismissed suggestions that he is uncomfortable playing short-pitch deliveries.

"I have been playing well those short balls in IPL and Twenty20 [ Images ] World Cup. It is just that sometimes mistakes do happen," he said.

"Pull shot is my favourite and I would continue to play it," he added.

PCA says Yuvraj's claims 'ill-founded'

Meanwhile, Punjab [ Images ] Cricket Association has termed Yuvraj Singh's outbursts regarding discrimination in the selection at junior level as "ill-founded" and said the process was "foolproof" and 100 per cent done on merit.

"I think what he has said is ill-founded. Yuvraj is a product of junior cricket and has all along been associated with PCA. He has played so many matches at the junior level," BCCI treasurer and PCA secretary, MP Pandove said.

Pandove said the PCA's selection process at all levels is 100 per cent done on merit.

"Our selection system is totally foolproof. There is no discrimination at junior or senior level," Pandove said.

He said the PCA's "fair selection" had also been proved by the performance of Punjab teams in various tournaments over the past many years.

How long is the transition period: Warne

Frustrated to see his team lose the Ashes series against arch-rivals England [ Images ], Spin legend Shane Warne [ Images ] has questioned how long will it take for Australia [ Images ] to get over the transition period.

"The vultures are circling and looking for answers, but to me it's pointless and destructive to sling criticism about why we lost the Ashes," Warne wrote in his column in Herald Sun.

"It is more constructive for those in charge to work out how to move forward. Many members of this team were playing in their first Ashes series, but there comes a time when the transition period is over. How long is that period?"

"This team has been together for 12 months and has played excellent cricket; at other times ordinary cricket. People must realise this team will be inconsistent, which is frustrating," he added.

Warne felt Australia lost against a weaker English side and so there needs to be some introspection.

"There is no disgrace in losing if you are outplayed by a better team, as was the case in 2005. This time around, though, I don't think England was much better. That's why it hurt even more and why questions have to be asked. Australia could not win the big moments," he said.

Warne also termed the seven match ODI series against England as ridiculous and joke.

"Unfortunately, Australia now plays a series of ridiculous limited-overs matches against England, and then more one-dayers in South Africa [ Images ] and India, before the next Test in Brisbane [ Images ] in November," he said.

"It is a joke that any international team has to play seven ODIs after a five-Test series against the same team. There are only nine Tests between now and the next Ashes series in Australia at the end of next year, but a ludicrous number of one-day cricket in the same period," he added.

England's true Ashes test lies ahead

True test for England [ Images ] lies in their ability to defend the Ashes title in Australia [ Images ], which is altogether a trickier business and a rare feat achieved only on four occasions by the Poms since the controversial Bodyline series of 1932-33, feel former English cricketers.

Beating Australia in England was the easy bit but most of the England's cricketers will discover in 15 months' time that winning the Ashes over there is not a child's play.

Players from the successful tours 1954-55, 1970-71 and 1986-87 have advised Strauss on what it will take to convert this summer's success into victory Down Under and those involved in the 5-0 drubbing Down Under in 2006-07 should need little reminding.

"To win in Australia you need a good captain and a balanced attack," said 85-year-old Trevor Bailey.

"In 1954-55 we had a very good captain in Len Hutton [ Images ]. And then, for the first Test, we picked four pace bowlers Brian Statham, Frank Tyson, Alec Bedser and myself. Spinners Bob Appleyard and Johnny Wardle played in the other four Tests and it made such a difference. We won three of them. Tyson was absolutely outstanding but we won the series because we had a first-class captain and a varied attack," Bailey was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

Michael Vaughan [ Images ] had said this week that victory in Australia would now be "the ultimate achievement" for Andrew Strauss's [ Images ] resurgent team.

Only four England captains since Douglas Jardine have won the Ashes on Australian soil.

"England can win there next year," said Bailey.

"But we need to develop a class slow bowler and I don't see too many in county cricket. There are a few leg-spinners coming through but to do well in Australia a leg-spinner has to be very good."

Ray Illingworth, the captain in 1970-71, said: "England will have to be 20 per cent better away than they were at home to beat Australia. That's to make up for the different conditions, ball and crowds.

"The most important thing for England – and this won't happen so I don't know why I'm saying it – is to go into the first Test prepared. In 1970-71 we had four tough state games. And the state sides were full of Test players in them days. Barry Richards and Doug Walters both scored double hundreds against us.

"I still felt we were a little short of match practice before the first Test in Brisbane [ Images ], which is why I played the extra batter there. Generally, though, I went in with five bowlers in that series, which is what you need to have – a properly balanced attack," Illingworth said.

Illingworth also added that it's very difficult for one spinner to do the job when it's turning and and even when it's not turning, spinners can give you control.

"Adil Rashid is coming on really well. Otherwise England may struggle to get two spinners in the side, though Kevin Pietersen [ Images ] would be good if he was willing to put in the hours."

Emburey, who was a good spinner, thinks the batsmen hold the key.

"I think getting runs up front is the most important thing. Illy's side had [Geoffrey] Boycott, [John] Edrich and [Brian] Luckhurst all getting runs. On Gatt's tour we had Chris Broad leading from the front, with three centuries. That made it easier for [David] Gower, Gatting and even Jack Richards to pile on the runs down the order. When your top order is firing you're controlling the game."

England have 15 months before they set out to retain the urn. The winter tour against the new No1 side in the world, South Africa [ Images ], will ensure players do not rest on their laurels and keep players focused on the long road to next winter.

For John Hampshire, winning in Australia is about self-belief. Hampshire, a batsman on the 1970-71 tour, said: "You need a strong captain, which we certainly had in Illy. You need your best players. But beyond that it is about filling your heads with strong positive thoughts. Illy made us feel we were going to win. And if you don't feel that there's no point in going."

Champions League: Arsenal ease into group stages

Arsenal [ Images ] eased into the group stages of the Champions League [ Images ] on Wednesday by outclassing Celtic 3-1 to enter Thursday's draw where they will be joined by Fiorentina, VfB Stuttgart, Olympiakos and APOEL Nicosia.

A controversial penalty converted by Brazilian-born Eduardo after 28 minutes allowed Arsenal to build on their 2-0 victory in Glasgow in the first leg of their final playoff round tie last week.

Well-crafted goals by Emmanuel Eboue [ Images ] and Andrei Arshavin [ Images ] after the break underlined the gulf in class between the two sides although Massimo Donati salvaged a little pride for the Scottish side and their visiting army of fans, lashing a volley with the last kick of a one-sided tie.

"When I first saw it I thought it was a penalty but having seen it on the replay I don't think it was," Wenger [ Images ] said of Eduardo's theatrical fall that infuriated Celtic keeper Artur Boruc and his team mates.

"I've never asked a guy to dive to get a penalty but sometimes a player goes down because there is no way to escape a keeper.

"I would not go as far as to say that he dived but I don't think he would have complained if the penalty had not been given."

Even if the first goal was dubious, the 5-1 aggregate victory did not flatter an Arsenal side who have now won their first four games of the season, scoring 15 goals in the process.

Serie A side Fiorentina squeezed through on away goals against Portugal's Sporting after a 1-1 home draw left the tie level at 3-3.

Steven Jovetic equalised for Fiorentina on the night after Sporting had gone ahead on aggregate through Joao Moutinho.

Stuttgart were held 0-0 at home by Timisoara of Romania but progressed courtesy of their 2-0 away win last week. APOEL beat FC Copenhagen 3-1 for a 3-2 aggregate win while Greek side Olympiakos ended the dreams of Moldovans Sheriff Tirsaspol, completing a 3-0 aggregate win.

The 10 winners of the playoff ties will join the clubs who automatically qualified for the lucrative group stages, including holders Barcelona and runners-up Manchester United [ Images ].

Celtic will have to content themselves with a place in the Europa League.