Anderson salutes de Villiers
Nelson (New Zealand): Corey Anderson saluted AB de Villiers on Monday for a “hell of an innings” after the South African broke the New Zealander’s record for the fastest century in a one-day international. De Villiers took just 31 balls to smash his way to 100 against the West Indies in Johannesburg on Sunday, five balls faster than Anderson when he set the record against the same opposition in Queenstown a year ago. “Records are there to be broken and congratulations to AB, it was obviously a hell of an innings,” Anderson said in Nelson where New Zealand are preparing for the fourth ODI against Sri lanka. De Villiers went on to score 149, including 16 sixes and nine fours, from just 44 balls which impressed Anderson whose 131 not out against the West Indies came from 47 deliveries and included 14 sixes and six fours. “To get 149 off 44 is probably even more special,” said the big-hitting New Zealander who described breaking records as just “one of those things that happens”.
MacGill sues Cricket Australia
Melbourne: Former test spin bowler Stuart MacGill is suing Cricket Australia for $1.6 million Australian dollars ($1.3 million) he claims he is owed in unpaid match payments and prizemoney. MacGill filed a writ in the Supreme Court of Victoria on Monday seeking $1,640,890 in match payments and prizes he says he was entitled to but didn’t receive after injury ended his international career in May, 2008. The right-arm legspinner is also seeking almost a million dollars in costs, bringing his total claim to $2.6 million. He alleges he was not paid match fees and prizemoney accruing from 15 away tests and 11 home tests in the two years after his injury and which he was entitled to under Cricket Australia’s player insurance policy. MacGill played 44 tests, taking 208 test wickets..
Clarke on track for WC return
Melbourne: Australia’s preparations for next month’s ODI cricket World Cup today received a massive boost with the announcement that inspirational skipper Michael Clarke is on track for a return from injury by February 21. Clarke, who underwent a hamstring surgery earlier this month, has been named in Australia’s World Cup squad but given time until February 21 to prove his fitness. The World Cup, to be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand, starts February 14 and Australia will be playing their second pool game, against Bangladesh, on the day Clarke is expected to be match-fit. “Michael is progressing well in his rehab and is currently running on a regular basis and has commenced batting,” Cricket Australia Physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said in a statement. “He was reviewed by the surgeon in Melbourne on Sunday who was very pleased with his progress. He remains on track for a return to play by 21 February, the date we spoke of when the squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup was announced,” he added. Clarke, who has a nagging back spasms problem as well, is currently keeping himself busy with rehabilitation and television commentary.
It won’t get worse: Root
Dubai: The continuing on-field spats among players do not make for a good sight says Joe Root but the England batsman is sure that it would never deteriorate into cricketers punching each other like in some other sports. Indian and Australian cricketers were repeatedly involved in verbal spats in the recent Test series and in a fresh incident on Sunday, Rohit Sharma and David Warner exchanged a few words during their ODI tri-series match. Root, who was attacked by Warner in a Bar in Birmingham before the 2013 Ashes, says mutual respect was paramount. “There have been a few things that have happened over the last six months and that is not good for the game. But I can’t really see it going that far to lead to a punch-up. It’s not ice hockey,” Root was quoted as saying by Daily Telegraph. “I think someone would have to be in a really bad place to do that. You have to make sure you have respect for your opposition but still play hard cricket and play to win. It is about mutual respect for each other,” he added.
No evidence of match-fixing: police
Mumbai: The Mumbai police told a court here on Monday that they had not found any evidence of match-fixing against top BCCI officials with regard to IPl in 2013. “We have found no evidence of match-fixing against the respondents as alleged by the petitioner,” said the report submitted by Mumbai police’s crime branch. The report has been signed by Nandkumar Gopale, inspector, with property cell of the police. Social activist Naresh Makani had filed a complaint in May 2013 against BCCI and others alleging that all the matches of Indian Premier league in 2013 were “fixed” and the franchise owners were also involved in it. The complaint named BCCI functionaries including N Srinivasan, his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, and others. Meiyappan was arrested by Mumbai police in a separate betting-related case and he later got bail. Makani had prayed for registration of separate case of cheating against them.