World Champions slips to 5th position in ICC rankings

World champions India, dropped to the 5th position in the ICC ODI Championship in the rankings table after India lost to England won the 5-match ODI series with 3-0 following their 4-0 in Test series and also lost only T20. Team India finished England summer without any win.

India slips to 5th position in ICC Rankings

It is India’s lowest ever rank in ODI since October 2008, after Team India finishing the disappointment England summer. India lost its number-one position in the ICC Test Championship to third spot after losing all the four Tests. India had entered the series in third position on 117 ratings points and finished on 112 ratings points after it loosing ODI series.   England has gained a place and has moved to fourth position. 

Indian skipper MS Dhoni moved three places up  after finishing the England ODI series as the leading run-getter.  Indian rising talent Virat Kohli was followed by the MS Dhoni, however Virat slipped three places to ninth position. Elegant left-handed batsman Suresh Raina has jumped five places to the 30th spot. The Wall Rahul Dravid announced his retirement from ODI cricket ODI career in 118th position after playing his first series in two years.

The Indian bowling has nothing to look back of the tour, but tall off-spinner R Ashwin, who took six wickets against England, jumped 34 places to 41st spot, while medium pacer Praveen Kumar moved four places to 21st position.

Rahul Dravid dons blue for the last time

The Wall of Indian cricket Rahul Dravid will be playing last match in blue representing Indian Cricket team at at Sophia Gardens on Friday September 16, 2011

Rahul Dravid has represented in India in 343 one-day internationals scoring 10,820 runs with an average of 39.06 and strike rate of 71.16. Dravid also has 196 catches and 14 stumpings to credit in ODI’s. Rahul Dravid played most consistenly right thorgh his career which named him a ‘Mr. Dependable’ and also name of ‘The WALL’.

In One-day form of cricket it has not been an easy ride for Dravid. Although he made his debut in 1996 he had to be patient enough to be successful and well-recognised. Taking the responsibility of wicket-keeping, captaincy was never easy but he did manage it to some extent.

Rahul to respire Indian colors 'Blue' for one last time

The 38-year-old Dravid is the second Indian batsman, after Sachin Tendulkar, and the third international player to reach 12,000 runs in Test cricket. Soon after he became the sixth player over all and the third Indian after Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly to score 10,000 runs in ODI cricket. He is the first and only batsman to score a century in all ten Test playing nation. With more than 200 catches, Dravid currently holds the world record for the most number of catches in Test cricket. Dravid has also been involved in more than 80 century partnerships with 18 different partners and has been involved in 19 century partnerships with Sachin Tendulkar which is a world record.

While India cricket greats, including Sachin Tendulkar, praised Rahul Dravid for his contribution to the Indian Cricket team, the former India captains Sourav Ganguly and Anil Kumble also praised Dravid's contribution in one-dayers. Tendulkar called Dravid the ‘unsung hero of the Indian team’, Ganguly said Indian cricket should be ‘thankful to Rahul’ and Kumble  called him an ‘exceptional team player. While Dravid described his flnal one-day as just another day in the field.

'Mr. Dependable' Rahul Dravid unseen rare pics

Roger Federer in Sydeny, ahead of Hewitt match

Can Team India make Rahul Dravid's farewell special?

The Wall of Indian cricket team will be playing his last one-day international tomorrow i.e., 5th ODI and which the last one of the England tour. Rhaul Dravid has one last chance to represent for India at limited overs format, while Dravid played his first and last T20 international in this tour. 

Can India make special farewell for Rahul Dravid

Is Indian skipper MS Dhoni and team has any plans for Rahul Dravid, who will end his ODI career after the final one-day against England here on Friday. Dhoni gestures in 2008, when former captains Sourav Ganguly and Anil Kumble walked away. The gestures include Ganguly leading the side briefly against Australia in the final Test in Nagpur, while Kumble was carried on his broad shoulders. He also made sure that India's greatest wicket-taker was there at the podium to receive the trophy after they won the series 2-0.

Although Indian team has nothing to cheer about England tour, ODI’s took worse possible shape for India coming off from their 4-0 Tests. Rahul Dravid batted brilliantly well in Tests scoring 3 - 100’s but failed to take his form into ODI’s, Rahul played 343 one-day internationals overall with an average of 39.06 and scored 10820 which includes 12 – 100’s and 82 – 50’s.

Rahul Dravid is the second highest scorer ever in Test cricket but he is at seventh place in one-dayers. All the three Indian greats of present era like Sourav Ganguly, Anil Kumble have ended their career on winning note and goodbye with a great gesture of Dhoni. Sachin too got his dream fulfilled by winning World Cup 2011 and now its turn of the ‘The Wall’ will Dhoni and Team India make Rahul last outing a memorable one.

Roger Federer ends 2011, without a grand slam

World No.4 Roger Federer has finished the year 2011 without a single Grand slam, although he is still in good touch and in best of from. The top seeded players like Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray the around Swiss legend have raised their game standards and levels.

Federer ends 2011 without a Grand Slam, since 2003

The 16 time singles Grand Slam title winner find it hard to win another major, as all the majors have been ended up with recent Us Open. Federer has finished off 2011 without a Grand Slam and this is first time for Swiss player to end a year without winning any major since 2003. Novak Djokovic clinched three Grand Slams of Wimbledon, Australian and US Open while Rafael Nadal has won French Open as Fedex remained without any title in 2011.

Former World No.1 Roger Federer, said that his greatest rivals Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are playing at greater level of game, than the earlier times when he was simply beating the rivals at Grand Slams. Djokovic was compared to all time rivals of federer like Lleyton Hewitt, Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick who were at their best when Roger has defeated all the odds against them. 

However, the 47-year old Sweden’s former World No. 1 Mats Wilander said that there is no question of Roger Federer is better now than he is ever been. But the 30-year-old was just not finishing the game on a winning note. However, Novak Djokovic is way better than the opposition he had four, five years ago. He even added the top players are far better now than of earlier. When asked whether Roger the best of all time? He answered yes, because he has 16 Grand Slams and that’s where it all ends. Sixteen majors make Roger Federer the best player of all time.

The perfect solution for the Swiss star and god of tennis in modern era has to find new strategies to his current game and move ahead to add more majors to his gallery of 16 Grand Slams.

Sangakkara hopes Lanka to win in 100th Test

Former Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara will play his 100th test in Colombo from Friday and Sangakkara is hoping celebrate his 100th Test with a series-levelling victory over Australia in the final test match against Australia. Sri Lanka is 1 – 0 down to Australia in 3 match test series.

Sangakkara to play 100th Test, eyes on series leveling win

The left handed batsmen said that it is a great honour to have represented for country for a period of time, and also a great honour to play 100 Test matches. He also added that it is not often that a player gets that opportunity and he is very, very proud and also very privileged for the opportunity to represent his country for so long.

Sangakkara, will celebrate his 34th birthday next month, will be the fifth Sri Lankan to play a century of Tests after Muttiah Muralitharan (132), Mahela Jayawardene (121), Chaminda Vaas (111) and Sanath Jayasuriya (110). Sangakkara made his test debut against South Africa in Galle in 2000 and scored 8,572 runs in 99 Tests at an average of 55.66 with 25 – 100’s. He is the second highest run getter for Sri Lanka behind Jayawardene with 9,801 runs from 121 matches.

Sangakkara said that his goal was to compile 10,000 Test runs and score 30 centuries before he gets retired and insisted that retirement is far away from his mind.

Serena Williams: Emotions took over during US Open 2011 finals

The American tennis star admits that her emotions got the best of her during her championship match at the U.S. Open on Sunday. Serena Williams got into a war of words with chair umpire during her loss to Sam Stosur in the U.S. Open 2011 final Sunday.

The 13 time singles grand slam title winner Serena Williams tweeted that her emotions did get the best of her during the past weekend when she disagreed with the umpire. It has been a long road to get back to the US Open this year, and she is thankful to have had such a great two weeks in New York.

Serena arguing with chair umipe at US Open 2011 finals

Serena bursted out on chair umpire Eva Asderaki, as she was facing a break point while serving in the first game of the second set, where Williams hit a forehand that she celebrated with a yell of ‘Come on!’. However, chair umpire Asderaki applied the hindrance rule, noting the yell came while Stosur got her racket on the ball, as Stosur was awarded with the point. Serena Williams was fined abusing for violating the code of championship.

The 29-year-old Serena has played well in this season, coming back from her injury. She had won two titles at 2011 western & southern open and Roger Cup, before she lost US Open 2011 finals to Samantha Stosur. The US Open officials said that, Serena has to change her behavior, where she has not changed since 2009 US Open semi final incident with line umpire, playing against Kim Clijsters.

Gautam Gambhir skips CL T20 qualifiers

Gautam Gambhir, the skipper of the Kolkata Knight Riders unlikely will be taking the field in the Champions League Qualifiers for the team owned by Shah Rukh Khan. Gautam has not completely recovered from the injury and in regard Kallis will be taking the skipper’s role. Gambhir has suffered a mild concussion while attempting to take a catch during the 4th Test against England at the Oval and has missed out the entire ongoing one-day series against England.

Injury rules Gambhir out of CL T20 qualifiers

On the other hand, the qualifiers will start on 19th of September and will be shut down on 21st, featuring 6 teams. Apart from KKR, Auckland Aces, Leicestershire, Ruhuna Rhinos, Somerset and Trinidad and Tobago joins the qualifying phase with 3 teams going through to the main event.

However, Dav Whatmore, the coach of the KKR is confident on the team that they will keep their full efforts to go forward in absence of Gautam. He added that Kallis was terrific and came up with some good ideas in leading the team forward. Apart from this speaking about the form of India, he said that the fans love the game but unfortunately Team India could not do well in the Test series in England and confident they will surely hit back.

Yusuf Pathan also feels that a good performance in the Champions League T20 could have chances to make a comeback into the Indian Team. Yusuf said that Irfan is also striving hard to do well and also hopes that they would play together soon.

Rafael Nadal to miss out Spain Davis Cup semifinals

Former World No.1 Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal could miss out Spain's Davis Cup semi-final against France, due to tiredness. Rafa looked to be tired as he lost a demanding US Open final to world no.1 Novak Djokovic on Monday. The Spanish star then flew back to Spain to join up with fellow Davis Cup team-mates David Ferrer, Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez ahead of the semifinal, which begins in Corboda Friday.

Rafael Nadal might miss Spain's Davis Cup semis

The 10-time Grand Slam title winner explained that his participation is in the hands of team captain Albert Costa. He added they were here as a team and, what is more is he would not play if the captain feels another teammate is better prepared than me. Rafael Nadal feels that he is fully exhausted after the US Open finals and suffering a toe injury.

However, Nadal added that Spain would still be able to present a powerful side, if teams captain Costa decided to rest him. The world no. 2 Rafael Nadal quoted that if he is not in shape, luckily Spain is still has there top-level players. Spain has chosen to play the match on their red clay surface, which is their favorite.

Rafael Nadal have been have been competing at the highest level for three weeks, now there is a change of surface and that is something to assess. Nadal missed out last year's quarter-final defeat to the French. Spain and France have met seven times in the Davis Cup, Spain has the upper hand with 5 wins.