Redefine News

 

Cricket bats are an integral part of the great sport of cricket. Cricket has been around for hundreds of years and in that time span changes have occurred to the game and the equipment. It is said that the early bats were similar to hockey sticks, with a long shank and a shorter angled end. In fact one of these early bats, said to be from 1729, exists and is on display in London. Since then the bats have evolved and modern style bats are not only shaped differently, there are more distinguishing features.

Modern cricket bats are paddle shaped, with a slim handle and a wider blade. The blade is flat on the front side and the back side has an aerodynamic v-shaped ridge. The ball is hit with the flat side of the bat. The cricket bat is usually made from willow wood because it is rugged and virtually splinter-proof while remaining fairly light. The bats are treated with linseed oil and this serves two purposes. It protects the willow wood and it also provides increased friction on the surface when it meets the ball and that helps the batsman’s control. Aluminum bats are not allowed in organized games because they can damage the cricket balls.

Bat size is regulated and can be up to 965 mm long and the blade up to 108 mm wide. While there is no restriction on weight, most weigh between 1.1 to 1.4 kg. Most bats today are machine-made, but there are some craftsmen who make cricket bats by hand. These are generally custom orders for professional players or for very serious amateurs who are seriously passionate about the sport.

New cricket bats should be seasoned a bit before they are used. This is called knocking-in and involves hitting the bat surface with a bat mallet or with a cricket ball. This action will compact the fibers inside the bat and should help prevent it from snapping or splintering during use. The product manual that comes with your bat will tell you to knock in your bat for three to six hours, and this is usually about eight thousand hits to the bat. However, some manufacturers offer pre-knocked cricket bats at a higher price. Your choice will depend on whether you want to save money or save time.

These specialised bats have come a long way since that early hockey stick look alike. As players realised the effect the bat material and shape had on their ability to hit the ball, they made changes and alterations until they created the modern cricket bat. Even today individuals are tweaking their bats, trying to get the best performance. Some have tried different materials like aluminum blades or lightweght carbon in the handle, but these usually get regulated against. International cricket officials pay close attention to any changes and work to preserve tradition in the sport. Their intent is not to stifle progress, but ensure that any changes in equipment are true to the sport and fair for all its participants.

 

Cricket is an old and noble sport played all over the world. Cricket equipment and the style of game are unique, though other sports share some similarities. It is played at the professional level and at competitive amateur levels. In competitive cricket there are some matches that last a whole day and others that go on over several days. But for those recreational players, who just want a little fun on the weekend, they can get together with others for a few friendly innings, or join a local league.

Even casual or weekend players will need the proper cricket equipment. They want to use the equipment that is correct for the sport and also meets their skill level. One of the most important pieces of cricket equipment is the ball. It should meet the same weight and size regulations as the balls used in professional matches, to get the most out of the game. And although cricket balls can seem expensive, it is a good investment. In recreational cricket you won’t have to follow the strict ball rules so you will probably be using your cricket ball more, so you will want the best that you can afford.

Another piece of cricket equipment is the bat. Professional players take great care selecting a bat and will often have them handmade to their personal specifications. Even competitive amateurs will invest in their bat. Casual or local league players may each have their own bat and there are many good, affordable cricket bats on the market. They should find the best bat for their skills and abilities, and one that fits their style. All cricket bats should be properly cared for and this includes knocking them in, if they are not pre-knocked, and storing them correctly when not in use.

Most of the remaining cricket equipment will most likely be purchased as a group, as each individual player doesn’t need to own their own wicket and bails. So the local league, or a group of players, can join and purchase the field equipment together. Or if they play at a local cricket field, the equipment may be available for use or rental. The protective gear is very important for the safety of the players, so this cricket equipment must be obtained. All protective pads, mitts and helmets should be available and used no matter how casual the match is, because cricket balls are hard and they can be deadly.

Once a group or league has assembled their cricket equipment, the final decision is where to store it when not in use. You want your gear in a safe, clean place where it will not be damaged or stolen. This may be a locked shed or in one of the member’s homes. The important criteria when choosing is that it is safe and it is accessible. This equipment is an investment and should last. You want it in a place easily accessible, so when it is time to get up for a match everything is ready to go.

It is sometimes easy to forget when it is British summer time. Frequent rain showers, high winds and low temperatures make it feel far more like autumn or spring. The last few months have had their ups and downs in terms of weather, and there have been some truly glorious sunny days. A lot of people look forward to summer activities for the whole year, whether their interest is in gardening, walking or sports. At about this time of year nature has well and truly awoken after a winter slumber, and the countryside across the UK is absolutely gorgeous – trees are in full leaf and hedgerows are a wall of colour, with all sorts of flowers waving in the breeze.

These are the months that are also traditionally associated with the sport of cricket. Although the sport originated here in Britain, it is now enjoyed by people from all over the globe. Professional cricket may be a big deal nowadays, but there is still space for local teams and novices on village greens across England. Taking a weekend drive through villages in good weather can often mean at least one sighting of the players dressed all in white having a friendly match. The current financial climate means that people are trying to be as economical as possible, and some practice with better value products, rather than traditional, professional quality cricket equipment. In the interests of safety, some teams, especially ones with young players, use lighter weight plastic balls, rather than the more standard cork and leather versions. One area of cricket equipment that cannot be taken lightly is clothing – players occupying certain positions require added protection, for example shin pads, helmets and gloves.

It is possible to find some real bargains in stores at the moment, and cricket equipment can be found at wonderful value prices. Both online and high street retailers are aware that consumers are looking for exceptional value for money, and competition between shops is fierce. Some recent events have made the British public feel a bit down – the ‘Credit Crunch’, swine flu and the MP’s expenses scandal to name just three, and sports can be a great morale booster. Lots of communities which have long since lost local sports teams are once again seeking to regain the sense of community that they inspire, and cricket is a popular game among them. Money for community sports teams and clubs often has to be provided by members or local residents who wish to support them. For these reasons, the best possible value, reasonable quality cricket equipment is quickly snapped up, and retailers are only too aware of this.

Those looking for good value cricket equipment should be certain that they have done enough research into what is needed, and the average prices. Only when a decision has been made about which level of quality is desired and there is an understanding of what makes good cricket equipment should the search for deals begin. The internet can provide a great deal of choice, and there are numerous stockists who can arrange delivery of equipment all over the world.

 

Cricket is one of the most popular games played in the UK, and has been for over a hundred years. The equipment and accessories used in the game have evolved a lot since cricket first started, and with this many manufacturers have produced some very sophisticated pieces for cricketers to use.

The different pieces of cricket equipment are numerous, but all serve a purpose into making the game what it is today. Apart from the obvious items – bats, balls, batting pads etc, there are other pieces of cricket equipment that you may not think about. Accessories such as specialist shoes, with spikes on the bottom to help the player dig into the ground, and helmets, which fit over the head and protect the face from possible injury, are also used in the majority of cricket matches.

With all of the equipment that can make up a cricket match, it can understandably be quite expensive when kitting either yourself or your child out for the game. There are numerous sports retailers that stock cricket equipment, but it is important to choose the best ones that will suit either you or the person the equipment is for. Looking to buy cheap cricket equipment is always a good idea, especially if buying for a young person, as they will no doubt grow out of their kit quite quickly so you will need to replace it with items that fit.

Cheap cricket equipment does not mean that what you buy will be low quality. In fact, many well known manufacturers such as Adidas, Puma, Gray Nicolls and Nike make cricket equipment, and these items can be bought from many discount retailers. Many people choose to buy branded items, so it definitely a plus that such retailers stock them.

If you are looking to buy cheap cricket equipment items, be sure to know exactly what it is you need. Cricket equipment is available to buy in both senior and junior styles, so everybody is catered for. Regardless of what items it is you are looking to buy, you will need to know the sizes you need.

Apart from the cricket equipment that is used during a game, there are accessories that the players use when they are not in the game to make their lives easier. Cricket bags, for example, also come in wide range of branded styles, with manufacturers such as Dukes, Adidas, Kookaburra and Puma to choose from. Some retailers also choose to produce their own lines of cricket equipment and accessories, which are also of high quality standards and worth the money.

If you do decide to take up playing cricket as a sport, or have a child that wants to play, be sure to research into the range of cheap cricket equipment you can buy. It is also a good idea to look into cricket protection; baselayers are available which give the player extra warmth and thigh guards, which do as the name implies.

If you buy your cheap cricket equipment from the Internet, make sure the retailer’s website is a secure and safe to use. If you need any further information on their products, feel free to give them a call for advice.

With a place in the final already clinched and nothing much at stake, most of India's batsmen batted sloppily. However there was no such charity from Virat Kohli as he struck a mature unbeaten century to ensure that India went into Wednesday's game on the back of three successive wins.

Shakib Al Hasan's 85 and a 106-run partnership with the lively Mahmudullah had lifted Bangladesh from a dismal 95 for 5 to 247 for 6, but on a placid track and against a line-up in form, it was nowhere near enough. India cantered home with seven overs to spare.

Kohli played with commendable concentration until victory was in sight, driving and cutting beautifully even as wickets fell around him. He got his first reprieve on 83, when Mohammad Ashraful put him down at deep midwicket off Syed Rasel, and the butter-fingers epidemic appeared to catch on, with Mushfiqur Rahim fluffing a stumping off Shakib in the next over. Ashraful's woeful outing continued when he dropped Suresh Raina two balls later. It summed up Bangladesh's evening in the field though the match was as good as over by then.

The only interest towards the end of the game centred around whether Kohli would get to his second century. The first 50 had taken just 47 balls, and he was especially severe on Shafiul Islam in his final spell, off-driving and pulling with authority. Naeem Islam was punched off the back foot for four and when Rasel decided to test him with a short one, he pulled it behind square for four. Victory and three figures were completed in a hurry, with an off-drive and a leg-side swish off Shakib.

Bangladesh needed early wickets to send any tremors through the Indian ranks but they didn't get them. Shafiul bowled some fine deliveries, but also offered width that Dinesh Karthik was quick to capitalize on, cutting powerfully past the inner ring for fours. With Gautam Gambhir glancing anything directed at his pads and Karthik easing one through the covers, India were off and away.

When Abdur Razzak came on, Karthik greeted him with a fierce heave over midwicket, but his cameo ended on 34 when he under-edged Shafiul to the keeper. Shafiul continued to be expensive though, with Gambhir taking three fours in an over, and it was left to Naeem to strike in his first over and give the team some hope.

Gambhir sauntered down the track to Naeem and swiped airily, only to see his stumps broken. But with Kohli cutting Shakib for boundaries and playing a gorgeous on-drive, the asking rate was in no danger of climbing. Yuvraj Singh was becalmed against spin though, and after a superb cover-drive, Naeem had him playing down the wrong line to be trapped in front. MS Dhoni glimmered briefly for 32 before clipping Shakib to mid-on, but there were no further alarms as Raina and Kohli saw it home in dew-heavy conditions.

Naeem had contributed a brisk 22 late in the Bangladesh innings as they took 47 from the batting Powerplay and 95 from the final 10 overs to reach a respectable score. Mahmudullah continued his good form against India, remaining unconquered on 64. Shakib was dropped by Dhoni off Yuvraj when he had made just 38 and he took advantage with some punishing strokes in the final stages of the innings. A huge six over midwicket off Ravindra Jadeja started the acceleration, and he took Amit Mishra in the same direction when he dropped short.

There was some fortune, with a top edge clearing Dhoni for four, but there was also plenty of ability, with Sudeep Tyagi being pulled for two fours and then scooped impudently down to fine leg. But when he tried to repeat the stroke off Ashish Nehra's slower ball, he only found Dhoni's gloves.

Mahmudullah had started off with a thump over cover off Mishra, and he then lofted Nehra to long-off for four more. Sreesanth was cut powerfully to the ropes and Mishra hit over long-on for six as the runs came far more freely in the final stages. Naeem swung Nehra for a six at the end and slashed another four as the sparse crowd celebrated a frenetic finish to the innings.

India had started much the better. After a maiden from Tyagi, Imrul Kayes had flailed twice through the off side as Sreesanth pitched too wide, but when he tried the same approach against Tyagi, Kohli snaffled him at point. Ashraful had no thoughts of consolidating - after playing one reckless shot to third man, he decided to give Sreesanth the charge and played on via the pads.

Raqibul Hasan played some chancy strokes, and a delightful pull off Tyagi, while Tamim Iqbal, after a cautious start, lofted Sreesanth over mid-on and then pulled him for four. But again, a wicket fell when they could least afford it, with Tamim driving Nehra on the up to mid-off, where Tyagi took an excellent catch on the run.

Raqibul was then run out as Yuvraj managed to deflect a Shakib drive on the stumps, and though Shakib gave the fans something to cheer with some crisp strokes through the off side, Mushfiqur lobbed a slower one from Yuvraj straight to the man at cover to leave the side in disarray with half the overs remaining. Honour was partially restored by the end, but once again India were just too strong, even with Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan not taking the field.

Two years after bringing in fresh recognition for hockey with his Bollywood blockbuster Chak De India, actor Shah Rukh Khan has now taken up the cause of the national hockey players amid a gripping payment crisis in the sport. In the city to oversee the ongoing camp of the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Calcutta Cricket & Football Club (CCFC), Shah Rukh today gave a strong statement in support of the national hockey players who are fighting a bitter battle against the national hockey federation for not getting pending payments.

“Hockey is very special and it’s our national sport. What has happened is really sad,” Shah Rukh told reporters here on the sidelines of the Knight Riders camp. The national players, who are in Pune for a camp, took to a strike protesting non-payment of dues, then brokered a temporary, and finally Asked if the national hockey should go ahead with the agitation, the Bollywood actor and co-owner of the IPL side Knight Riders said: “Everyone has to take a stand in the way they feel but I hope the issue gets resolved. It’s not nice that there is a strike and it’s not nice either if the players go out to play when they are actually unhappy and unattended to in some matters of economics. I hope it gets resolved soon. The focus should be on resolving the crisis and not highlighting it,” Shah Rukh said.

The popular actor pointed out that the ongoing dispute has come at the wrong time, with the World Cup round the corner.

Hockey India seems to have brokered some sort of peace when they met six of the senior Indian players, including captain Rajpal Singh, in New Delhi last Saturday, but talks fell through and the players resumed their strike starting today.

Last week, Shah Rukh created a flutter on Twitter when he posted a message backing the national players over the payment fracas.

‘Kolkata has been let down’

The owner of the KKR franchise took it upon himself when asked to analyze the team’s failure in the first season of the IPL carnival. “Kolkata has been let down,” Shah Rukh said, admitting that the Knights didn’t do well enough and that as co-owner of the side, he was partly responsible for the poor showing

Indian pace spearhead ‘Zaheer Khan’ returned to the squad after recovering from a shoulder injury, which had kept him out of India's recent assignments whereas seamer ‘S. Sreesanth’ staged a surprise comeback into India's 15-member Test squad for the first two cricket Tests against Sri Lanka starting November 16 in Ahmedabad.

The team to be captained by Mahendra Singh Dhoni also includes Tamil Nadu players opener Murali Vijay and middle-order paceman S Badrinath.

Despite of his good performance in the ongoing series against Australia, Ashish Nehra failed to get the selector’s nod. Also Pacer Munaf Patel, batsmen Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli, who are playing in the series against Australia, was not considered for selection for the three-match Test series.

On the other hand Veteran Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman retained their places in the test Squad.

The 15 man squad for the Test Series are:
· Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt)
· Virender Sehwag
· Sachin Tendulkar
· Gautam Gambhir
· Rahul Dravid
· V V S Laxman
· Yuvraj Singh
· Harbhajan Singh
· Amit Mishra
· Zaheer Khan
· Ishant Sharma
· M Vijay
· Pragyan Ojha
· S Sreesanth
· S Badrinath.

Lyon: Five time European champion Liverpool were left on a brink of elimination from Champions League on Wednesday, while Olympique Lyon and Sevilla qualified for the knockout stage of Champions League.

Liverpool had taken lead in the game with score 1-0 score on the board, but Lisandro Lopez last minute goal for Lyon forced the match to be drawn for 1-1. As a result Lyon advanced while Liverpool were left in trouble to be eliminated. On the other side Sevilla qualified despite losing their 100 per cent record after a 1-1 home draw with VfB Stuttgart.

Argentine striker Lopez fired home from close range in the 90th minute as Lyon progressed from the group stage for the seventh time in a row.

Liverpool was ahead in the game when Ryan Babel scored a goal in 83rd minute, but Lopez’s last minute goal turned the match scenario.

Lyon top Group E with 10 points from four matches followed by Fiorentina (9), Liverpool (4) and Debrecen (0).

Lyon coach Claude Puel praised Hugo Lloris for a superb performance in goal.

"He is the one who kept us in the game but that is no surprise," Puel told reporters. "He has played a prominent part in our Champions League results."

Fernando Torres, who has been suffering with a groin injury, started for Liverpool at Gerland stadium but the Spain striker was a shadow of his normal self.

Australain pacer Peter Siddle headed back home due to the side strain he picked up during the fourth one – dayer in Mohali. Injury to Siddle is huge blow for Australian Cricket team.

"Cricket Australia today confirmed Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle will return from Australia's Tour of India after experiencing some left side stiffness during last night's victory over India in the fourth ODI at Mohali," CA said in a statement.

Australian physiotherapist Kevin Sims said ‘though the injury was not very serious, he did not want to take a chance with the pacer's fitness’.Siddle bowled just 5 overs during Australia’s 24- run victory in Mohali.

"Peter's injury does not appear to be a serious problem but it is unlikely he will be able to safely bowl within the next week which would therefore not allow him to have any further participation in the tour. With this in mind we have made the decision that Peter will return to Australia where he will reviewed by Cricket Australia medical staff to ensure he is available for selection at the beginning of the Australian summer," Sims said.

CA's National Selection Panel is currently discussing the possibility of a replacement player joining the squad and an announcement would be made later.

Replacement for Siddle would be announced later, according to Cricket Australia’s National Selection Panel.

Every passing match has multiplied Australia's injury problems in the ongoing series. The world champions landed here a depleted side, missing vice-captain and middle-order mainstay Michael Clarke. It became worse thereafter as pace spearhead Brett Lee, all-rounder James Hopes, wicketkeeper Time Paine headed home after picking up different injuries. The series is currently tied 2-2 and the fifth match is scheduled on Thursday in Hyderabad.

Mohali: After getting out for 40 in the fourth ODI against Australia in Mohali, Tendulkar missed to reach the milestone of 17,000 runs in ODI. As the packed PCA Stadium waited in anticipation for the 36-year-old to score the requisite runs, they were left disappointed when Aussie spinner Nathan Hauritz trapped him leg-before in the 19th over.

Umpire Ashoka De Silva gave LBW out to Sachin Tendulkar on Aussie spinner Nathan Hauritz ball. The decision seemed to be controversial as television replays showed the ball was missing the leg stump.

The Indian batting legend, who has 44 One-day hundreds to his credit, will now have to wait until the fifth match on Thursday in Hyderabad to make another attempt at reaching the milestone.

Sachin Tendulkar’s 40 run innings was a mix of caution and aggression during which he hit six fours.

The diminutive Mumbaikar, who made his ODI debut Pakistan in 1989, is already way ahead of his contemporaries when it comes to accumulating runs.

Tendulkar's pile of runs now stands at 16,993 at an average of over 44. He has 91 ODI fifties under his belt.

Rated as the world's best batsman after Australian legend Sir Donald Bradman, Tendulkar has an awe-inspiring Test record. In the whopping 159 matches that he has played, Tendulkar has scored 12,773 runs at an average of 54.58.

The veteran batsman has scored 42 hundreds and 53 half centuries in the longer format of the game.

Mohali: Shane Watson hit 49 and took three wickets as Australia beat India by 24 runs in the fourth one-day international to draw level at 2-2 in the seven-match series.

Cameron White also made 62 and captain Ricky Ponting 52 in Australia's total of 250 at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali.

Chasing 251, India got off to a flier with Virender Sehwag (30 off 19 balls) looking eager to wrap up the issue and Sachin Tendulkar (40) going great guns.

But their undoing was no less spectacular as the middle and lower order could not forge a single significant partnership and the team folded for 226 in 46.4 overs.

With Sachin Tendulkar in pursuit of yet another batting milestone - 47 runs separated him from the 17,000 mark when he walked out - and looking in good nick, the crowd had enough to look forward to till an Ashoka de Silva howler spoiled their party.

Fluent initially and aware of the imminent milestone as he approached it, Tendulkar was hit on the pad by an innocuous Nathan Hauritz delivery that was missing the leg stump but de Silva raised his dreaded finger to send groans across the chock-a-block stadium.

At 94 for three, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (26) and Yuvraj Singh (12) had a task uncannily similar to the one they had accomplished in the previous match in Delhi but this time their association was nipped in the bud by a Ricky Ponting direct throw that sent back Yuvraj.

Watson claimed 3-29 from 7.4 overs, while left-arm seamer Doug Bollinger, playing in his fifth ODI, collected 3-38 from nine overs.

On the Indian side Ashish Nehra (3-37) was pick of the Indian bowlers - Harbhajan also grabbed a couple of wickets - and he drew first blood in the eighth over when he struck Shaun Marsh (5) low and plumb.

The next match will be played in Hyderabad on Thursday.

MANCHESTER, England (AFP) - Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney ensured Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United returned to winning ways in a routine 2-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford here on Saturday.

Rooney struck three minutes from time, converting Anderson's cross with a clinical sweeping shot into the Rovers net from six yards out, to give his side a comfortable cushion yet this was far from a vintage performance from the defending champions.

United looked out of sorts for the first half-hour, possibly the legacy of an unfamiliar line-up which Ferguson had been forced to select with Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic both considered incapable of starting the game.

That left United with an unfamiliar centre-back pairing of Wes Brown and Jonny Evans although, save for a promising attack from El-Hadji Diouf which was ended by John O'Shea's well-timed tackle in the 23rd minute, there was nothing to worry that re-shaped defence in the first-half.

Berbatov made the breakthrough in the 55th minute but it was not until two minutes from time Rooney made the points safe.

It means they keep the pressure on Chelsea and Arsenal at the top of the table in their aim to win a fourth successive title.

United must have wondered how they were still on level terms at half-time given the amount of possession they enjoyed.

As early as the third minute Nani sent a 20-yard shot whistling past the post following a marvellous crossfield pass from Wes Brown.

A mistake by Blackburn defender Chris Samba let in Antonio Valencia 10 minutes later but he failed to take advantage and scuffed a shot off target.

It was a clear opportunity and Blackburn looked nervous at the back at this stage following the mauling by Chelsea last weekend and nine straight defeats on the road.

However the visitors responded in the 21st minute and El-Hadji Diouf got into a good position, only for John O'Shea to make a crucial interception.

United stepped up the pressure and Pascal Chimbonda did well to block a shot from Berbatov in the 29th minute after Patrice Evra played the ball in.

A minute later Berbatov nearly made the breakthrough with a downward header following a cross from Valencia.

However goalkeeper Paul Robinson reacted superbly and turned the Bulgarian's effort over the bar.

Blackburn responded and Samba peeled away from his marker as David Dunn delivered the corner, only to head wide of the target.

It was brief respite for the visitors as Berbatov was again denied by Robinson in the 34th minute after being set up by Rooney.

This was a difficult spell for Blackburn and Berbatov found the net after Rooney had squared the ball to him in the 40th minute, only to be ruled offside.

Then Nani misdirected his header from inside the area following a corner from Valencia as Blackburn held out until half-time.

United pushed forward in the 53rd minute after Nani won the ball off Gael Givet.

The midfielder attempted to release Rooney but the pass was hopelessly misplaced and the move broke down.

Anderson then picked out Evra, who had raced into the area, only for his touch to let him down and Robinson was able to collect.

United made the breakthrough when Berbatov showed good skill when he got on the end of a cross from Evra.

He got the better of Ryan Nelsen, twisting and turning before sending a shot beyond Robinson for his fourth goal of the season.

United boss Ferguson decided to make a change after 64 minutes bringing on Obertan for the ineffective Nani.

Obertan made a delayed debut in the Carling Cup victory against Barnsley in midweek after recovering a back injury.

He almost made a dream start in the 67th minute following a defence splitting pass by Anderson.

Former Bordeaux winger Obertan raced away only to send a weak shot into the arms of a grateful Robinson.

Berbatov came off in the 79th minute and replaced by Michael Owen, who scored in the cup victory against Barnsley.

United should have extended their lead in the 83rd minute but Obertan again fluffed his lines. Clear in front of goal as Valencia played the ball into his path, he snatched at the chance and sent his effort wide.

Obertan then had a hand in United's second goal in the 88th minute when he found Anderson on the left flank.

The Brazilian sent a good ball into the area and Rooney was the first to react with a sweet finish.

Substitute Nikola Kalinic found the net for Blackburn in stoppage time but his effort was ruled offside before Owen sent a shot wide.

Sachin Tendulkar, who is two weeks short of completing his two decades in international cricket, will be chasing the personal milestone of 17,000 ODI runs when he pads up in the fourth One-Day International against Australia here Monday.

The batting maestro is 47 short of achieving the feat. The batting friendly track at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium here might turn out to be the lucky strip for Tendulkar, who has not been in best of form in the series so far, having scored 50 runs in the three matches.

It would be Tendulkar's second ODI outing here. The PCA Stadium occupies a special place in Tendulkar's heart since it is the same venue where in October last year against Australia, he surpassed West Indian Brian Lara as the highest Test run scorer and also became the first cricketer to score 12,000 Test runs. Only a small crowd had turned up to witness that slice of history.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had also felicitated Tendulkar.

BCCI secretary N.Srinivasan said that no celebration has been planned this time around but for sure a sell-out crowd will be cheering for Tendulkar.

Tributes have started pouring in from teammates and opposition captain Ricky Ponting. Ricky Ponting said Tendulkar is an ideal role model for young cricketers. 'The way Sachin has carried himself for the last 20 years has been exceptional. He is an ideal role model for youngsters,' he said.

Yuvraj Singh called him the 'Grand Pa' of Indian cricket. 'He has been playing for the last 20 years and it is interesting to see that the hunger is still there in him. Playing with him has been a great learning experience.'

It was not the sort of welcome that Mahendra Singh Dhoni would have expected.

The first ball that he faced, he was struck flush on the helmet by a quick bouncer from pacer Ben Hilfenhaus

But the Indian captain didn't make too much fuss about it.

Infact, Dhoni didn't even change his helmet, just pondered for a few seconds, checked whether there was an injury or not.

He survived and then produced one of the best innings in recent times in one-day cricket when he smashed 124 off 107 deliveries to lead India to a convincing 99-run victory.

Dhoni, revealed, how he had lost his bearings for a few seconds after that blow.

" The right-hander revealed short deliveries have always created a problem for him, but had his own way of dealing with it.

"It was a good delivery but it is not like I was hit on the head for the first time. If you make a programme on it I think you will get atleast 15 clippings. I get hit on the head all the time but it is not the best way to start your innings," he said.

Dhoni started off cautiously before unleashing his power-packed shots in the final overs to set up India's mammoth total of 354 for seven, their highest total against Australia [ Images ] in ODIs.

He pointed out that with additional responsibility he had become more mature as far as his batting was concerned, unlike in the past when he would go ballistic with the bat.

"I am not the same what I was three or four years back, less responsibility and more flair but now there is more responsibility whenever I turn up on the field. People expect me to get those runs and some of the venues they expect me to hit big sixes but it is different batting at number five, six or seven. Usually you play according to the situation but mostly it depends on what kind of pressure you are handling," he said.

Dhoni said being the senior player there is a lot of expectations on him to deliver with the bat and his approach had changed accordingly over the years.

"You play by instinct but at the same time there is a cautious attempt to see what the demand actually is. What happens is that if there is a youngster batting at number four and if he plays a big shot and gets out people say it is ok he will learn and improve.

"But when a set player who has played around 100-odd internationals be it anyone if he plays a big shot and succeeds then he is a braveheart and has played a real good shot. But if he is not successful people just rip him apart. At times, that is on back of your head whenever you look to go for a big shot you back yourself and go for it," he said.

The India skipper once again pointed out that it is difficult for him to bat up the order since the top four batsmen are difficult to break up.

"Unless somebody is out of form or is not going through a real good job then we can think about that. Till everybody is doing their job on the field you don't really want to tamper too many things and that is how it works," he said.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni pummeled the australian bowlers all over tha park as he played one of the best innings of his life today at the Vidarbha Cricket Stadium in Nagpur as India leveled the seven match series 1-1 against Australia.

Dhoni blazed through his knock of 124 off just 107 balls and took home his 23rd motorbike, a Hero Honda Karizma, for being declared the man of match. Gautam Gambhir and Suresh Raina gave some excellent support to Dhoni as they cracked quick fifties each. Dhoni and Gambhir jammed to score 119 for the fourth wicket while Raina and Dhoni let it rip as they blasted 136 from 93 balls for the fifth wicket. Virender Sehwag set up the momentum as he played some lusty strokes and made a quickfire 40 off 31 balls. However, Sachin Tendulkar missed out on breaking the 17k barrier as he was out for just 4.

Ponting : "It was always going to be a hard run chase. The wicket was very good and it was a fantastic surface to play ODI. The dew didn't play that much a part as we though. Credit to India who outplayed us in all departments. Once the dew came in, we should have been just two wickets down but we had lost quite a few by then."

Man of the Match is MS Dhoni: "We lost Sachin early but Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag provided the ideal start. Then Yuvraj Singh played well. The platform was given for me to come and do my stuff. We knew that with five overs of Powerplay left, if we can take it at 38 or 40 overs we can always get to a big total. One of those innings that was good. The wicket was good and I exploited that. If you recall India A series in Nairobi, me and Gauti batted a lot and ran a lot. Aashish [Nehra] has been the pick of the bowlers. He has always done well. It was good to see Praveen Kumar bowling well today. Ishant also. Jadeja . . Bhaji also ... The 148 against Pakistan, the 183 against Sri Lanka, the Afro Asia game were good ... This innings was good because it came after a long time."