Olympic flame plunges into Russia’s lake Baikal

Russia on Saturday took the Olympic flame into its scenic lake Baikal, the world’s deepest body of fresh water, in the latest dramatic torch relay ahead of the Sochi Winter Games.
State television showed a torchbearer in a helmet propelled over the surface of the lake in a jet-powered backpack. He then passed the flame to a man in full diving gear with a special water-resistant torch.

The flame, turning into a bright pink flare, was shown disappearing into the dark depths of Baikal, a long lake straddling two Siberian regions that contains 20 percent of the world’s fresh water. Russian news agencies said three divers reaching the bottom of a shallower part of the lake completed a relay handover underwater, after which the flame returned to shore.

The lake at its deepest point is 1,642 metres. The Olympic organising committee said later the divers descended to a depth of 13 metres. The Irkutsk region’s town Listvyanka, where the dive took place, currently has temperatures of minus three degrees Celcius. Russia hosts the games in its Black Sea resort of Sochi in February. The event has already broken records in terms of the costs of its preparation, with a total budget of more than $50 billion (36 million euros).

 The flame has already traveled to easternmost Russia and as far north as the North Pole as Russia uses the event to showcase its geographical expanse and technological prowess — even sending one of the unlit Olympic torches into space earlier this month. On Friday the relay went to Russia’s Buddhist region of Buryatia where monks took the torch around their sacred temple in the direction of the sun, according to organisers.  The flame’s next notable destination is the top of Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe located in Russia’s North Caucasus. It will then light the Olympic cauldron in Sochi on February 7, 2014.

Match starts at 1.30 p.m (Can the Caribbeans raise their game?)

“Just natural talent and flair won’t do,” Nick Compton had told The Hindushortly after the West Indies’ tour of India commenced. “Without technique to take on world class opposition, you are bound to be exposed,” the great Denis Compton’s grandson said, talking of the travails waiting to rain down on the visitors.

Left out of the ongoing Ashes tour, the younger Compton was on a visit to Balavikasa in Warangal, near Hyderabad, as brand ambassador for FRANKwater, a Bristol-based charity.

His English team-mates are all at sea against the Australians down under, but the common traits attributed to Caribbean cricket like ‘cavalier and commanding,’ now seem to belong to a bygone era.

Beleaguered islanders

With batting buccaneers/game changers Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard out of action, the picture presented by the beleaguered islanders looks an even paler shadow of its past prowess in the run-up to the second match of the ODI series against India at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA cricket stadium on Sunday.

On the contest’s eve, the combatants chose to skip pre-match media conferences and practice sessions, even with the venue all awash in green and quite welcoming. Supersoppers, so integral now to cricket’s scenery, scoured the outfield for whatever traces of moisture remained in the wake of cyclone Helen, on the charge even until Friday night.

The sun’s glow was all-enveloping on Saturday morning as the skies cleared, but like in the past, could this be just a breather till heaven’s artillery recharges?

Do the tourists have the wherewithal to stop the likes of a rampaging Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli? Or can they prevent an encore of M.S. Dhoni’s 123-ball 148 at this very venue, which well and truly launched the relentless run-getter in 2005? Both don’t look very likely on this shirtfront, so devastating to a bowler’s soul. Prospects of another one-sided duel don’t seem to deter the city’s curious cricket buffs though as they circle the stadium, vainly hoping for a glimpse of their heroes.

Time was when rock group Rare Earth’s wise-crack seemed tailor-made for cricket’s hedonists: ‘I like what I do and I do what I like’. The menace of a Michael Holding or the swagger of a Viv Richards was enough to browbeat almost any opposition.

Unenviable task

The wealth of wisdom these sages of the sport have to offer finds little reflection in the present set of their successors. To breathe belief into a side short on spirit, to motivate men on a sinking ship sure seem unenviable task Dwayne Bravo is saddled with, challenges few captains can measure upto.

If the heights scaled mean big peaks, these surely are trying times of turmoil in the trough. Or are these West Indians illustrations of Arnold Toynbee’s cyclical theory of history, of a slump before a surge or of a hitherto all-conquering cricketing empire, now in decline? Will their fortunes be saved or sealed in the City of Destiny? Too many questions for a team that for too long was rarely in doubt!

The teams (from):

West Indies: Dwayne Bravo (captain), Tino Best, Darren Bravo, Johnson Charles, Narsingh Deonarine, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Sunil Narine, Veerasammy Permaul, Kieran Powell, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Ravi Rampaul, Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons.

India: M.S. Dhoni (captain/wk), Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Vinay Kumar, Yuvraj Singh, Ambati Rayudu, Mohit Sharma, Jaidev Unadkat, Amit Mishra, Rohit Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shikhar Dhawan, Mohammed Shami.

Umpires: Vineet Kulkarni, Rod Tucker. Third umpire: Anil Chowdary. Match referee: David Boon.

England 24-2, chasing 561 to win 1st Ashes test

After spending three months trying to convince critics that the last Ashes series was much closer than it looked, Michael Clarke’s Australian squad did everything they could to ram home the point against England on Saturday.

Resuming at 65-0 and with a 224-run lead, Australia got centuries from Clarke and David Warner to lift its total to 401-7 before declaring with a 560-run lead, leaving England’s top order an hour to survive on day three.

Pacemen Ryan Harris and Mitchell Johnson, aided by a cooling breeze and gloomy, gathering clouds, then dismissed opener Michael Carberry (0) and No. 3 Jonathan Trott (9) to have England reeling at 10-2.

Captain Alastair Cook (11) and Kevin Pietersen (3), playing his 100th test, combined to help England reach stumps at 24-2.

Earlier, Michael Clarke’s Australians vowed to challenge England in the Ashes, and they backed it up on day three of the series.

Clarke (113) and David Warner (124) scored centuries and Brad Haddin (53) posted his second half century of the match before Australia declared its second innings at 401—7 late Saturday, setting England a target of 561 to win the first test.

The highest fourth-innings total to win a test match was the West Indies’ score of 418—7 against Australia in 2003.

England had an hour to navigate before stumps on Saturday and a further two days to bat in Brisbane, where Australia have not lost a test in 25 years.

Clarke and Warner both started the series under pressure, and both responded emphatically in the second innings.

Clarke was out just before tea at the Gabba, where he has scored five of his 25 test centuries, after sharing partnerships of 158 with Warner and 52 with George Bailey (34).

The Australians had a 159-run first-innings lead after scoring 295 and then skittling England for 136 on day two, including a stunning collapse of 6 wickets for nine runs in 58 balls.

The dominance of the ball wasn’t replicated on day three, with Clarke waiting until he had more than enough runs to declare the innings closed, ensuring the England players spent most of the day in the field.

The biggest successful fourth-innings chase at the Gabba was Australia’s 236—7 against the West Indies in 1951.

England scored 370 in the fourth innings of the 2006 test here but lost the game. In the corresponding test of the 2010 Ashes series, England scored 517—1 declared after giving up a first—innings lead in the drawn first test. Alastair Cook scored an unbeaten 235 in that innings, which set England on course to win the urn on Australian soil for the first time in 24 years. That was the second of England’s three consecutive Ashes series wins, a roll they have brought to Australia.

Warner hit 13 boundaries, a giant driven six which clattered into the sight screen to reach 124, but was out three balls later trying to run a ball from Stuart Broad down to third man and instead feathered a catch to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.

The combative, 27-year-old left-hander lost his place for two tests on the last Ashes tour after a night club altercation with England batsman Joe Root and was later dropped from Australia’s limited—overs squad for a tour of India due to a lack of form.

But he scored four centuries in domestic cricket to secure selection for this series and has cemented his opening spot with two assured innings. He batted with composure in the first innings until an ill-judged shot to Broad ended in dismissal on 49.

Clarke responded to concerns over his susceptibility to the short ball with consecutive boundaries against Broad, who was reintroduced to the attack almost as soon as the Australian captain got onto strike. Clarke pulled a short ball for a boundary from near shoulder height and then hooked the next ball fine for another four to set up his innings. Broad had taken Clarke’s wicket six times in recent Ashes tests, including the Australian captain among his six victims in the first innings here.

But it was Clarke who got on top quickly on a ground where he has scored more than 1,000 test runs and averages above 100.

Sachin Tendulkar thanks all who made his life as a cricketer possible

Mumbai: 

An emotional Sachin Tendulkar had a long list of people to thank for supporting him through an illustrious 24-year career. In front of a packed Wankhede crowd, the legendary player - tears clearly visible in his eyes - bid farewell.

On his father:

The most important person in my life and I have missed him a lot since 1999. Without his guidance, I wont have been standing here before you. He gave me freedom since 11. He told me to be a nice human being. Every time I have done something special, I have raised my bat for my father.

On his mother:

I don’t know how she dealt with such a naughty child like me. She must be patient. My mother took care of me. She started praying for me before I started playing cricket and she kept praying, praying and praying. A big thanks to her for all the sacrifices.

On his siblings:

My eldest brother Nitin and his family have always supported me. He said whatever you do, I know you will give a 100 per cent.

My first cricket bat - a Kashmir willow - was presented by my sister. She is the one who continues to fast when I bat. So thank you Savita.

I don't know what to talk about Ajit. We have lived this dream together. He sacrificed his career, he spotted the spark and took me to Achrekar sir and my life changed. He called me last night and we were discussing my dismissal. That's the rapport we have developed since my birth. We agreed on various things as for my techniques and many times I didn't agree with his view. Now I think I would have been a lesser cricketer had I not had him.

On his wife:

Most beautiful thing happened to me in 1990 when I met my wife Anjali. Those were the most wonderful years. Being a doctor, there was a wonderful career ahead of her. She told me when we wanted to have a family that I should concentrate on cricket and she will take care of everything. Thanks for being there. You are the best partnership I have had in my life.

On his children:

I wanted to spend so much time with Sara and Arjun on their birthdays, annual days, sports days. I missed out on all of these. Thanks for understanding. For 14 and 16 years, I did not spend enough time. I promise you  I will make it up.

On his childhood friends:

My childhood friends have had a terrific contribution. They left all their work aside when I asked them to bowl at the nets, join me on holidays, help me concentrate. Friends woke up at 3am when I was injured and reassured me that my career was not over. Life would have been incomplete without them.

On his first coach:

My cricket career started when I was 11. Turning point of my career was when Ajith took me to Achrekar sir. I was extremely delighted to see him in the stands (today). On a lighter note, he never said 'well played' in the last 29 years because he thought I will become complacent. Sir, now I have played my last but cricket will always be in my heart.

On former cricketers who inspired him:

Thanks to all senior cricketers and I have high regards for all of them.

On colleagues and the players in the current Indian team:

We see them on the giant screen – Sourav, VVS, Kumble who isn't here and my team members. I have had wonderful years with you. It is going to be hard not to be with you and share the dressing room. I know you will continue to serve the nation in the right spirit and right values. I believe we were the lucky ones to have been chosen by the almighty. I have full faith in you that you will serve the nation and bring all the laurels to the country. All the best.

On those who helped him stay fit:

Would like to thank all the doctors, physios to get this body together Without your special efforts, it won’t have been possible. I have called them at weird hours, they have taken flights at odd hours to help me stay fit.

On fans:

I want to thank all the people here and from various parts of the world. You have meant a lot to me.