Ponting backs suspended Watson
Melbourne: Former skipper Ricky Ponting has backed suspended Australia vice-captain Shane Watson, saying the all-rounder’s commitment for the team was beyond question. “Shane worked as hard as anybody around his cricket, there’s no doubt about that. He’s obviously made a blue here - I don’t like to refer to it as homework because it wasn’t homework - not getting his tasks done that were given to him by the coach,” Ponting said.” ... I’ve never known him to be anything other than a very good team player and a great bloke to have around your team,” he was quoted as saying by ‘The Australian’.
Swann’s surgery successful
Wellington: England off-spinner Graeme Swann faces up to two months’ rehabilitation after surgery on his injured elbow, officials said on Friday, raising hopes he will be fit for this year’s Ashes double-header. Swann was forced out of England’s current tour of New Zealand earlier this month after a longstanding problem with his right elbow flared, requiring surgery in the United States. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said Swann had undergone “an uncomplicated operation” on the elbow, which had a build-up of excess bone after an operation four years ago. “Swann will now commence a six-to-eight week rehabilitation and back-to-bowling programme before returning to competitive cricket early in the (northern) summer,” it said in a statement. Two editions of the Ashes series against Australia are being played back-to-back this year to avoid a clash with the 2015 World Cup, with the first beginning on July 10.\\ Swann, 33, has earned 50 Test caps in a career that includes two victorious Ashes series, with the spinner playing a key role both times. “It would be a massive pain in the backside if my wonky elbow forced me to miss any of the Tests against Australia,” he wrote in a newspaper column this month.
Shillingford spins WI to win
Bridgetown: Shane Shillingford destroyed an inept Zimbabwe batting line-up to set the West Indies on the way to a comprehensive nine-wicket win inside three days in the first Test here. Picking up from where he left off the previous evening when he took two wickets in two overs, the tall off-spinner added four more victims to finish with innings figures of six for 49 — and a match analysis of nine for 107 — as the visitors were routed for 107 in their second innings just before lunch on Thursday.
KKR don’t dd change ticket prices
New Delhi: As a way of thanking their fans, the Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday announced that their ticket prices remain unchanged for Indian Premier league 2013. The prices will range from `300 to `9,000. “The unchanged prices is a small way of thanking our fans and in line with KKR’s commitment of giving everyone an opportunity to watch their favourite team in action,” said Venky Mysore, KKR CEO. Meanwhile, franchise Delhi Daredevils on Friday announced the ticket rates for their IPl home matches at Feroze Shah Kotla and they have decided to treat their home match against Mumbai Indians as a ‘derby’ contest with a hike in price for that particular game. The online tickets for the matches in Delhi are now available at www.Delhidaredevils.Com. The online ticket sales for the two home matches in Raipur will be announced on March 19. The Daredevils’ game against Mumbai Indians on Sunday, April 21st is their most high-profile home match which will again have Virender Sehwag pitted against Sachin Tendulkar. According to the ticket rates released for the six games at the Feroze Shah Kotla, the minimum rates for tickets on weekdays is `500 while weekend matches will have the lowest denomination at Rs 750. However, the lowest denomination for the Mumbai Indians match on April 21 will be Rs 1000.
Sachin the mp to stay away
New Delhi: Cricket icon and Rajya Sabha MP Sachin Tendulkar may not be able to attend the first half of the Budget session of Parliament due to his engagements in the on-going India Australia cricket series. Rajya Sabha on Friday granted him leave from February 21 to March 7. PNS/Agencies