We are looking to improve our ranking says ponting

We are looking to improve our ranking says ponting

Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting Tuesday said his boys are looking forward to a competitive tournament against India and want to improve their world Test ranking.

'Of course, ranking matters in international cricket. Right now we are at fourth spot, so we will try to win maximum matches to ensure an improvement in ranking. It would be really challenging for us to take on number one team India,' said Ponting, while talking to reporters here.

He added: 'We are very confident that there would be a very competitive tournament against India. We all are very excited and would take on India as a strong group.'

'India is a great place to learn. It would be real hard-work for fast bowlers to bowl on Indian wickets. I am actually excited about the prospects of our fast bowlers here; they are young guys, who are learning things very quickly,' said Ponting.

'From the last test series in India, we had learnt many things. India are a good side, for whom we should be very well prepared. They are coming together as a very strong group,' he pointed out.

'Yuvraj is a very strong player and he has been left out for the forthcoming Test match. But still India are a very formidable side. They have a very strong batting line up,' said Ponting.

'I am very satisfied with the security arrangements. I have full trust in people here. Besides, Cricket Australia also briefed us about the security issues regularly,' he said.

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Mickelson to miss Grand Slam of golf

Mickelson to miss Grand Slam of golf

Masters champion Phil Mickelson has decided not to play the two-day Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda next month.

This season's three other major winners will instead by joined by Ernie Els.

With Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell having lifted the US Open, Els' fellow South African Louis Oosthuizen the Open and German Martin Kaymer the US PGA it means that no American will be taking part in the four-man event for the first time since 1994.

A statement from the PGA of America said that Mickelson "will not be able to compete due to his diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis. Mickelson elected to rest and spend time with his family for a month after a busy late season schedule that includes the Ryder Cup."

The world number two, who becomes America's joint record-holder when he earns his eighth cap against Europe at Celtic Manor next week, revealed his arthritic condition during the US PGA Championship last month.

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"Sixth place finish is our priority"

"Sixth place finish is our priority"

Force India team principal Vijay Mallya said their priority now is to cling on to the sixth position in the constructor's championship.

"We certainly want to hang on to sixth place in the World Championship, and not let Williams get past us. That clearly is a priority," he said ahead of the Sunday night's Singapore Grand Prix.

"For personal reasons we'd love to do well in Singapore as well, there's a huge Indian community, a huge amount of excitement. Force India would love to score a result that consolidates our position in the championship on what we consider to be our second 'home' territory," Mallya said.

"We were of course all hoping to score some points in Monza, but we were very unlucky in qualifying.

"Yet with so much to play for in this part of the season we can't look backwards at missed opportunities. We have to make the most of the chances coming up," Mallya insisted.

"Points have got to be the aim this time. Williams had a great event in Italy and really closed the gap with us, so we need as many points as we can.

"There are only a couple of overtaking places so qualifying is crucial and we'll be looking to get the whole package right from practice so that we can optimise our position for the start," the German said.

Sutil's fellow driver Vitantonio Liuzzi too said that they would go into Sunday's race with only sixth-place finish in mind.

"With this in mind we can go to Singapore knowing we are still very competitive and can take the fight to Williams for sixth," Liuzzi said.

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David Villa says Messi tackle was brutal!

David Villa says Messi tackle was brutal!

David Villa branded Tomas Ujfalusi's challenge on Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi as "brutal".

He said: "There is a committee that decides, and when they see the pictures he [Ujfalusi] is sure to receive the punishment he deserves, because the challenge is brutal and he should not be proud of what he has done.

"The punishment must set a precedent that will make a player think twice before doing something similar."

The Spanish hotshot went on to lay siege on Barca's title rivals Real Madrid when he put down Jose Mourinho's plea to match officials to give his star winger Cristiano Ronaldo added protection.

"I do not value the statements of Mourinho, as the referees do not notice who the player is, they will protect whoever it is, and so I do not appreciate what he says." said Villa.

With barely a month of the new season gone, things have already begun heating up in the Spanish La Liga.

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Fabregas says I'll be back in two weeks!

Fabregas says I'll be back in two weeks!

The Spain midfielder suffered the injury as he netted a freak goal at Sunderland on Saturday, the ball being kicked into him by Anton Ferdinand and looping 40 yards into the goal.

But he told his official Twitter account: "Good news on my injury.

"I have some fluid but nothing bad in the muscle. I hope I can be playing in two weeks."

The 23-year-old had just been finding his form having returned late after reaching the World Cup final in South Africa.

With Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner all still sidelined, the loss of another key man for a lengthy period would have come as a blow for the Gunners.

Fabregas would not have been included in the squad for Tuesday's game at Tottenham, with manager Arsene Wenger again set to use a combination of fringe and youth players in the Carling Cup.

He is likely to miss Saturday's home Premier League encounter with West Brom and the Champions League trip to Partizan Belgrade three days later, but could be back in contention for the trip to Chelsea on October 3.

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Klinger says I’d love to play the IPL

Klinger says I’d love to play the IPL

Southern Redbacks skipper Michael Klinger in an exclusive chat with says he would be delighted to play in the IPL.

"I'd love to get into the Australian team but there is lots of competition from a lot of good batsmen. Hopefully, my performances in the ACLT20 will catch someone's eyes," Klinger said with a smile as divine as his exquisite drives on the field.


"I would be delighted to play in the IPL. It is the closest exposure to world cricket, next only to playing for your country, Klinger told

"No, I don't have a preference at all and nobody has got in touch with me but yes like I said, it would be great to play in the IPL."

His sensational form and willingness to play in the IPL is bound to create some ripples amongst the two new teams- Kochi and Pune, who will have to start from scratch. With player retention turning out to be a hornet's nest, a nod from the likes of Klinger could smoothen some feathers for the time being.

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Redbacks look to carry momentum

Redbacks look to carry momentum

Guyana are out of contention for the ACLT20 and their dreams of rekindling the T&T’s Caribbean magic now lie shattered.

By Rajarshi Gupta in Johannesburg

However, Ramnaresh Sarwan's brigade will get one more shot at redeeming some pride against the South Australian Redbacks at the Wanderers on Tuesday. How easy will that be?

The Southern Australians have been on dream-run so far in South Africa. They had come down for the ACLT20 in the shadow of their more illustrated countrymen from Victoria but some enigmatic cricket has taken the world by surprise. Three wins out of their first three games ensured a semi-final berth for the Aussies even with a game left. However, they are not going to take it easy even if it is against a team that has had little to cheer about in an exciting T20 competition.

Southern Australia skipper Michael Klinger told that he "did not want to let anything slip" after doing so well throughout the tournament. The men from Down Under have been relentless and that is how they will like to keep things in the lead-up to the semi-finals. There will no leniency against the hapless West Indians and the way the team went about their training on Monday was a clear indication of things to come. The players looked relaxed in the afternoon and moved around the hotel and the adjoining mall with the aura of champions.

And why wouldn't they? Klinger has led from the front, cracking fifties in all the three matches while fellow opener Daniel Harris has shown he is cut out for the big league. Callum Fergusson has held the middle-order together while Shaun Tait has been destructive with his pace and movement. The Redbacks have stuck to their plans- laid out to the last detail since their seven practice games in Darwin prior to the tournament.

On the other side of the spectrum, Guyana's problems have spread right across the team. Barring Sarwan in a couple of innings, the others in the side have just not belonged there. The batting has been irresponsible, often frightened while the bowlers have lacked the talent to deliver. Not one player from the team should go back home happy - their performance has been abysmal to say the least.

The reason why the first game of the double-header might turn out to be rather interesting is Sarwan. The classy, right-handed bat has had enough to deal with over the last month. First, he had his contract revoked by the WICB and then his team decided to turn out looking hardly the side that had created ripples in the West Indies not long back. He is a proud cricketer and now looks hurt. One good knock from him could be enough to send the Redbacks on a hunt.

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