Barcelona test: Lotus set pace as Ferrari impress again and McLaren's woes continue

Ferrari maintained their impressive early-season form on the first day of the Barcelona test as McLaren-Honda's woes continued and Lewis Hamilton was forced to stop running due to illness. Although Lotus' Pastor Maldonado topped the timesheets after a late burst in the E23, it's the pace of Ferrari's SF15-T which remains the dominant talking point in the paddock. While Maldonado's benchmark was set on soft tyres, Kimi Raikkonen's 1:25.167...

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Pakistan vs West Indies world cup match facts

Preview: Two teams that need to win to stay alive in the 2015 WC will meet at Hagley Oval on Saturday, but that is not the only similarity between them. Both are missing influential players, both are creaking from instability and both are coming off dramatic losses. Welcome then, to West Indies versus Pakistan in game ten of the tournament. Not an ordinary fixture by any regards. In one corner, the cornered tigers - Pakistan. Led by Misbah-ul-Haq,...

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Australia vs Bangladesh world cup 2015

Preview: Marcia, a category five cyclone, has wreaked havoc along the coast of Queensland, and although it is expected to reduce to category one by the time it reaches Brisbane, it has already put the Group A clash between co-hosts Australia and Bangladesh in doubt. Michael Clarke, who is set to return to international cricket after a long break due to injury, might have to wait longer as the match at Gabba is likely to be affected by weather. A...

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The IPL's most expensive buys

Yuvraj Singh Price: Rs 16 crore (US $ 2.67 million) Delhi Daredevils, 2015 Having released their big names before the auction, Delhi Daredevils had the largest purse. They invested a big chunk of that on Yuvraj Singh as they searched for a player who could be the face of the franchise. He may be out of favour with the national selectors, but is still clearly a favourite among IPL franchises. Dinesh Karthik Price: Rs 12.5 crore ($ 2.08 million) Delhi...

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Faulkner out of the match against Bangladesh

James Faulkner has ruled him himself out of Australia's second league game in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup against Bangladesh in Brisbane on February 21. Faulkner, who sustained a side strain during the tri-series final against England in Perth at the start of the month, missed the opening game against England at the MCG but said that he is close to returning to full fitness. The allrounder said there is an outside chance that he might feature...

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PAKISTAN WORLD CUP JINX REMAINS SAME UPTO NEXT WORLDCUP COUNTDOWN VS INDIA

India got their ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 campaign off to a splendid start by defeating arch-rivals Pakistan for the sixth successive time in the World Cup. A 76-run victory, powered by Virat Kohli's fine hundred, left the Indian fans on Twitter overjoyed. Here are some of the reactions on Twitter following India's #‎SixZero...

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Miller, Duminy star in hard-fought win over Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe were defeated, but in no way outplayed, by South Africa in the ICC World Cup 2015 Group B encounter in Hamilton. For good parts of the game, Zimbabwe went toe to toe with their African neighbours. Eventually, the unbeaten 256-run fifth wicket stand between David Miller (138) and JP Duminy (115) proved to be the difference and helped South Africa record a 62-run victory. Under overcast conditions at the Seddon Park, Hamilton Masakadza...

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India vs Pakistan facts cricket world cup 2015

There was no escaping the word pressure and, consequently, the emotion itself as thousands of Indian and Pakistani fans descended on the sleepy South Australian city of Adelaide and got ready to bring a sub-continental flavour to the Adelaide Oval when India and Pakistan strive to win full points in the Pool B contest at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 on Sunday. Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Misbah-ul-Haq, captains of the India and Pakistan teams...

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Finch, Marsh star in big Australia win

The World Cup marked its return to Australia and New Zealand after a gap of 23 years and both sides feasted on their respective oppositions to get their campaign off to a rollicking start. Shortly after New Zealand registered an emphatic win over Sri Lanka at Christchurch, Australia inflicred a 111-run hammering on England in the second Pool A match of the ICC World Cup 2015 at Melbourne. Over the course of 100 overs, the match witnessed many...

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Goalkeeper makes blunder of the weekend

Ajax were handed victory at Go Ahead Eagles on Sunday after their goalkeeper, Mickey van der Hart, contributed to a bizarre own goal for the home side. With the scores level at 1-1, Van der Hart completely missed his kick when receiving a back pass from Wesley Verhoek and allowed the ball to roll into the empty net. To make matters worse and send conspiracy theories into a frenzy of speculation, van der Hart is currently on loan at his current club from...Ajax. Read more at http://www.worldsoccer.com/news/goalkeeper-makes-blunder-weekend...

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Hamilton contract before Australian GP

Toto Wolff wants Lewis Hamilton to sign a new contract with Mercedes before the 2015 season gets underway in Australia on March 15. The reigning world champion is in the final 12 months of his three-year deal with the Silver Arrows and will be a free agent at the end of the season. Talks started last year over extending the partnership, but Hamilton revealed earlier this month that it was his decision to put contract talks on hold around the...

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Afridi believes Pakistan can break India jinx

Pakistan's scoreline against India in World Cups is 5-0 and this has been well-documented. In the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, Pakistan get ready to face India for the sixth time and the clash on February 15 in Adelaide promises to be a tense affair. However, Pakistan allrounder Shahid Afridi believes the team is not disheartened by their poor record against India in the World Cup. "There is always a first time. I know it is a crunch game for...

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ICC World Cricket 2015: Scotland beat Ireland in warm-up

At Sydney's Olympic Park Scotland clinched an impressive 179-run win over Ireland, the strongest of the Associate nations who stunned England and Bangladesh at the 2011 World Cup. Matt Machan made 103 for the Scots with skipper Preston Mommsen (56) and Richie Berrington (52) also in the runs as they reached 296 for 6. In reply, Ireland skipper William Porterfield (23) and Paul Stirling (37) put on 57 for the first wicket inside 12 overs. But...

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Rohit century hands India important win

India finally had something to cheer for on their dismal tour to Australia as they registered a huge 153-run win over Afghanistan in their second and final warm-up game on Tuesday in Adelaide. Having failed to win a single match on the tour, India headed into the match low on confidence and having lost their first warm-up to Australia on Sunday by 106 runs. However, following a wonderful exhibition by Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina and Ajinkya Rahane,...

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Andy Bichel's top 10 allrounders for World Cup

Every ICC Cricket World Cup is huge but each one is a little different and this time around the conditions in Australia and New Zealand will play a big part. We haven't seen a World Cup for years over here and two players that played a huge role the last time it was hosted in the region in the 1992 World Cup were Ian Botham and Imran Khan - both allrounders. With this in mind, here are my top ten allrounders for this tournament. AB de Villiers...

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Hafeez ruled out of World Cup

In yet another blow to Pakistan, opener Mohammad Hafeez, on Sunday, was ruled out of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 after suffering an injury to his leg. The 34-year-old suffered the injury during the second one-day international against New Zealand in Napier last week and has been advised three weeks' rest. "Hafeez has been ruled out of the World Cup and will return home on the first available flight and in his place Nasir Jamshed has been summoned," a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman told AFP. Incidentally, the injury also forced Pakistan...

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Maxwell eyes proving his critics wrong

Australia batsman Glenn Maxwell has at last broken his silence over the constant criticism he has faced in the last few months over his "impetuous" style of play. Maxwell has a propensity of playing high-risk shots very early into his innings and that has often been his undoing. However, the 26-year-old changed his fortunes around in Australia's Carlton Mid Tri-Series triumph recently by registering career-best performances in the final against...

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Ishant Sharma ruled out of World Cup; Mohit Sharma likely to replace him

India fast bowler Ishant Sharma has been ruled out of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 having failed to recover from a knee injury. Reports suggest that Mohit Sharma is likely to take Ishant's place in the 15-man squad for the quadrennial event. The injured quartet of Ishant, Rohit Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ravindra Jadeja went through rigorous fitness drills and the 26-year-old paceman was the only player found unfit. Ishant last played...

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De Villiers: Not sure we are favourites for World Cup

South Africa skipper AB de Villiers is reluctant to talk up South Africa's chances ahead of the World Cup beginning on February 14. South Africa have lost in the semi-finals of the 1992, 1999 and 2007 editions of the World Cup and de Villiers said he is not sure whether his team deserves the title of favourites. "We've been the favourites before in the tournament. It didn't work out for us. I'm not really sure if (favourite) is a title that deserves...

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The need of the hour for India is pace: Brett Lee

Former Australia pacer Brett Lee feels India will need their pacers to be at the top of their game if they are to successfully defend the ICC Cricket World Cup. India come in to the quadrennial event with a number of headaches over their form and their bowlers' inability to trouble batsmen. Lee, who was part of the triumphant 2003 Australia World Cup squad, underlined Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav as the men who should take the lead role in the...

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Ferrari: Rivals masking true pace

Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene said there are "encouraging signs" that his team have made real progress with their 2015 car, but also cautioned that their rivals were masking their true pace. Ferrari finished quickest in three of the first four days of pre-season testing at Jerez, with Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel emerging with the fastest two times overall. And while that dynamic gave him cause for optimism, Arrivabene said...

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Crisis? What crisis? Pep Guardiola says no side can keep on winning

Pep Guardiola has rubbished suggestions that Bayern Munich are in crisis after the runaway Bundesliga leaders took just one point from a possible six following the mid-season break. A shock 4-1 defeat to second-placed Wolfsburg was followed by a 1-1 draw with Schalke in midweek. Despite the recent dip in form, Guardiola said: “Crisis? There is no crisis. These things happen in football. “We weren’t good enough in Wolfsburg but I was happy...

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Ghana calls for stiff punishment in wake of African Nations riot

Ghana have demanded action against the African Cup of Nations hosts Equatorial Guinea after visiting supporters were attacked by home fans during Thursday’s semi-final between the two countries. “It’s a pity that this dark cloud overshadows our success and we really need to see some stiff action taken by the Confederation of African Football,” said Kwesi Nyantakyi, president of the Ghana Football Association. CAF will meet on Friday to discuss...

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Raikkonen puts Ferrari back on top as Jerez test ends

Kimi Raikkonen ensured Ferrari ended the first pre-season test of 2015 on top by going fastest on the fourth and final day at Jerez. The Scuderia's new SF15-T had already topped the first and second days in the hands of Sebastian Vettel, and Raikkonen carried on that momentum by setting the best time of the test on Wednesday, dipping down to 1m 20.841s to finish comfortably clear of the chasing pack. "Over the winter, we have made a good step...

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New Force India unlikely to make second test

Force India have confirmed that it is unlikely their 2015 Formula One car will be ready in time for the second pre-season test in Spain on February 19-22. "Although everybody is working towards getting the VJM08 to the next test session in Barcelona, it's more likely the new car will appear at the final Barcelona test," the team said in a statement. "So, that would mean running the 2014 car at the first Barcelona test." Force India announced...

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Vettel keeps Ferrari on top on rain-hit second day

Sebastian Vettel maintained his and Ferrari’s encouraging start to pre-season testing by going fastest on the second day of running at Jerez on Monday. The four-time world champion, also quickest on the opening day, set a new overall benchmark of 1m 20.984s to finish almost one second clear of the chasing pack, despite a rain storm bringing a slightly early close to proceedings. “It’s too soon to give a verdict on the true level of this car,...

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Udo Lattek dies

Udo Lattek, the legendary former coach of Bayern Munich, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Barcelona, has died at the age of 80. Lattek won the German Bundesliga championship eight times and collected 14 major honors over his coaching career which spanned more than three decades. Lattek suffered two strokes and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2013. After an undistinguished playing career with VfL Osnabrück, Lattek was released from his...

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Were Real Madrid behind Neymar fraud charge?

Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu has hinted that Real Madrid could be behind the ongoing investigation into the signing of Neymar. Controversy has surrounded Barcelona’s signing of the Brazil international who joined in 2013. Barcelona initially claimed they had spent €57.1 million on him, only to later concede that their total spend had reached €86.2m. Bartomeu and the club have been accused of fraud and the latest evidence convinced judge...

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Franklin ends New Zealand career with Middlesex move

New Zealand all-rounder James Franklin effectively ended his international career after it was announced Friday the 34-year-old all-rounder had signed a two-year contract with English county Middlesex. The left-hander is set to play as a non-overseas player with the county, subject to clearance from the England and Wales Cricket Board, on account of his Irish ancestry. Such a classification would render Franklin ineligible to continue to...

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