Djokovic defeats Nadal to win US open

Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer on Saturday, beat Rafael Nadal and a bad back yesterday and put the final beatdown on his historic tennis year. Djokovic is the new King of Flushing and the tennis world. The Ashe Stadium crowd chanted “No-vak!” across yesterday’s glorious match, knowing it was watching history. Djokovic put the last stamp on arguably the most accomplished tennis year ever in surviving a four-set, four- hour baseline classic against the Spanish warrior Nadal. Laboring in the final set with a sore rib and a cranky back, Djokovic ascended to his first of what could be several U.S. Open titles with a ferocious 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-1 victory, capturing his third Grand Slam of the year and extending his unbelievable 2011 record to 64-2. “What a match, what a year,” legend Martina Navratilova said to Djokovic’s photogenic girlfriend, Jelena Ristic, outside the champagne-soaked men’s locker room. “Enjoy it now because we may never see it again.”aid to Djokovic’s photogenic girlfriend, Jelena Ristic, outside the champagne-soaked men’s locker room. “Enjoy it now because we may never see it again.”

English cricketers Bresnan, Morgan and Tremlett awarded central contracts

Tim Bresnan, Eoin Morgan and Chris Tremlett have been awarded 12-month England central contracts for the first time, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Tuesday. Paul Collingwood, who retired from test cricket after the successful Ashes series in Australia, did not have his contract renewed. "I am delighted that Tim Bresnan, Eoin Morgan and Chris Tremlett have all been awarded 12-month central contracts for the first time," national selector Geoff Miller said in a statement. "Central contracts are designed to reward players who perform well consistently for England and all three have made significant contributions to the team's recent success in retaining the Ashes in Australia and beating Sri Lanka and India at home." England replaced India at the top of the world test rankings during their 4-0 series whitewash this year.d test rankings during their 4-0 series whitewash this year.

Razzaq relishes CLT20 in India

Karachi: Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq on Wednesday said he was relishing the prospect of playing Champions League matches in India, where he aims to do his bit for improved neighbourly relations. The 31-year-old will feature in the qualifying rounds of the September 19-October 9 league for Leicestershire, the English county side who won the domestic Twenty20 tournament. Razzaq will become only the second Pakistani to play in the Champions League after Yasir Arafat, who represented Sussex in the first year of the tournament in 2009. I am really very excited to be playing in India, Razzaq told AFP. It's a great chance and I will take a message of goodwill for Indians.

Nothing going our way,admits Dhoni

Southampton: A downcast Indian captain MS Dhoni has admitted that while the team is not just going through the motions, nothing really has come together for the side on this tour of England. India lost the rain-curtailed, 23- over-a-side second ODI by seven wickets at the Rose Bowl on Tuesday as England chased down the stiff target of 188 for the loss of three wickets, with their skipper Alastair Cook remaining unbeaten on 80. This is India's sixth straight loss in the series after a 4-0 whitewash in the Test matches, and the loss of in the lone T20. The first ODI between the two sides on Saturday was washed out. It was a tough day. I think we batted well to put almost 190 on the board. The powerplay overs were really crucial when we were trying to defend. Nothing really went our way, Dhoni said after the game.

ICC names ODI team of the year

12 September 2011 The International Cricket Council (ICC) has named its One-Day International team of the year at a special function held ahead of the ICC Awards ceremony this evening in London. The team was chosen by a select panel chaired by former West Indian captain Clive Lloyd and would be captained by Indian wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The team comprises three other members of India's 2011 World Cup-winning side in Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and Zaheer Khan as well as two Sri Lankans, two South Africans and one representative apiece from Australia, England and Pakistan. ICC ODI Team Of The Year: Virender Sehwag, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, AB de Villiers, Shane Watson, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Graeme Swann, Umar Gul, Dale Steyn, Zaheer Khan 12th man: Lasith Malinga

It's a shame India skipped ICC awards,says Logart

"I am very disappointed that the Indian team did not attend the award function last night," Lorgat said. Indian cricketers were conspicuous by their absence at the ICC Awards with the team manager claiming that the invitation came far too late even though a few of the side's players were there in the list of the nominees. To this Lorgat said: "I know for a fact that my team had invited them some months back. We send those invitations through the BCCI and perhaps this question (why the team was absent) must be asked to them."

Broad out of West Indies and India series

Broad Out Of West Indies And India Series 12 September 2011 Stuart Broad, the England all-rounder and Twenty20 International captain, has been ruled out of the end of the international summer and the one-day leg of his side's upcoming tour of India this winter. The Nottinghamshire man tore a muscle in his right shoulder during the closing stages of India's innings in the fourth One-Day International at Lord's. His over had to be completed by Steven Finn and he was unavailable to bat although he wasn't eventually required to bat as England and India tied the game in a dramatic finale.

Trott wins the cricketer of the year award

England batsman Jonathan Trott has
won tthe International Cricket
Council (ICC) Cricketer Of The Year
award, following in the footsteps of
compatriot Andrew Flintoff, who
won the award in 2005. He beat off
competition from Alastair Cook,
Hashim Amla and Sachin Tendulkar
to become the eighth recipient of
the award at the annual ceremony,
this year held in London.