Varun Aaron 'wasted' in England:Akram

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram criticised the Indian team management in England for not fielding Varun Aaron in the one-day series, saying that the young paceman has been "wasted" in the seaming conditions which should have suited his bowling. "I was expecting to see Aaron play the ODIs. But the Indian team management made a mess by not blooding Aaron in conditions that were tailor-made for the quickie. This raises questions about the communication between the selectors and the team management," Akram said. "I would rather blood Aaron in England because the seaming conditions are ideal for him. It will be silly to give Aaron a start on Indian wickets. On placid tracks where he will get little support, two bad matches in the start of his career can destroy him," said the legendary fast bowler.ittle support, two bad matches in the start of his career can destroy him," said the legendary fast bowler.

India plans a fitting ODI farewell for The Wall

Cardiff: Ending what has been a nightmarish tour positively is not the only motivation for the Indian team to win the final cricket ODI against England as the side would also want to ensure a fitting farewell to veteran stalwart Rahul Dravid, who plays his final ODI today, Friday. Dravid, who has amassed 10,820 runs in 343 ODIs at an average of 39, has announced his retirement from one-day cricket after this series and he would be keen to go on a high, more so since the first four games of the series have only yielded 51 runs to him. The 38-year-old right-hander, nicknamed `The Wall` for his rock solid defence and consistency, has scored 12 hundreds and 82 fifties in the ODIs and he would want to notch up a big knock tomorrow to make his swan song appearance memorable. Aside from this, the match is of academic interest only as England have already won the series. The hosts are leading 2-0 after one match was rained out and another ended in a tie also due to rain interruptions. But Mahendra Singh Dhoni`s men would be keen to get at least a consolation win on what has been a massively disappointing series.

Gambhir to miss KKR CLT20 qualifiers

Mumbai: Kolkata Knight Riders have announced that their injured skipper Gautam Gambhir will miss the Champions T20 League qualifiers and his availability for the main tournament, if the team makes it, will depend on his regaining complete fitness. South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis will be leading KKR in Gautam's absence, a release from KKR said on Tuesday. The qualifiers of the league will begin on September 19 in Hyderabad with KKR clashing with Auckland Aces. KKR will lock horns with Somerset on September 21 in their second and last qualifying match. Gambhir had suffered a concussion when he hurt his head while attempting a catch during the fourth match of the England-India Test series. Gambhir had fallen on his head while running backwards to take a catch of Kevin Pietersen at mid-on on the second day of the last cricket Test at The Oval. He suffered a concussion and has been complaining of blurred vision.

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.