Hope Sachin sign off on high-Rahul Dravid

MUMBAI: There is perhaps no one who can claim to have spent more time with Sachin Tendulkar on the cricket field. Having shared numerous partnerships with him in the middle, having seen him bat since the maestro was 15, Rahul Dravid, a batting colossus himself, sure knows the legend and his game inside-out. "What he has accomplished is difficult to replicate," Dravid said at a promotional event in the city on Monday.

"He has never let his standard come down. His love for cricket has been consistent from the age of 16 to even now at 40. I would like that he does well in his last two Tests and signs off with a good performance. I hope he enjoys both these games. He has worked hard for so many years now, so he deserves a good farewell," Dravid felt. "I just want to wish him all the best and say 'thank you' for all that he has done for Indian cricket for the last 24 years," Dravid added.

Would he come to the Wankhede Stadium to watch his final match for India? "I hope to be there. I hope to do some media work around that time," he said.

Dravid felt that while it was impossible to replace a batsman of Tendulkar's class in the Indian team, there are talented batsmen around who can help fill that void to some extent. "There are some good young talented players around. What Virat has been able to do in one-day cricket and Test cricket is quite exceptional. I think India's one-day batting is good as I have ever seen it. Our top six-seven are just sensational," he said.

Dravid has sympathy for Indian bowlers who have disappointed during the on-going ODI series against Australia. "It's been a tough series for the bowlers. It's hard to blame them. I won't be too critical of our bowlers. They are young and inexperienced. With all these field restrictions coming in, it's not easy to be a bowler. What needs to be an acceptable bowling performance for them probably needs to be re-assessed."

AC Milan defender Philippe Mexes gets four-game ban for punching

Rome:  AC Milan central defender Philippe Mexeswas banned for four games on Monday after punching Juventus' Giorgio Chiellini in a Serie A clash in Italy's Turin city on Sunday.

The Rossoneri centre-back's violence went unnoticed by the match officials, but was captured by TV, according to which the Italian football authorities decided to hand him a retrospective four game suspension.

Chiellini had complained about Mexes' assault and demanded that he be punished.

It means the French international will miss the games against Udinese, Parma, Lazio and Fiorentina.

Sachin Tendulkar first Indian to reach 50,000 runs in all formats

In Mumbai Indians' semi-final against Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday, Sachin Tendulkar reached another landmark by completing an astounding 50,000 runs in competitive cricket across all formats.

Needing 26 runs on the day to reach the mark, Tendulkar tucked the ball towards midwicket for a single off left-arm spinner Yannick Ottley to reach another milestone in a glorious career spanning close to two-and-a-half decades.
He scored 35 off 31 balls before being dismissed by Lendl Simmons.
Tendulkar now has 50009 runs in 953 competitive matches, which includes 551 List A matches, 307 First-class matches and 95 T20 games.

Tendulkar has so far scored 25,228 runs in 307 First-class matches, including a staggering 15,837 runs in 198 Tests.

The 40-year-old has 21,999 runs in 551 List A matches which includes 18,426 runs in 463 ODIs.

Having scored 2747 in the 94 earlier T20 matches, the Master Blaster scored the necessary 26 runs with ease.

Tendulkar has had an ordinary 2013 CLT20 tournament till the semifinals and could score only 20 runs in four matches with a highest score of only 15. (Mumbai beat Trinidad, enter final)

Sachin is also standing on the cusp of another rare feat of becoming the first player in the history of the game to play 200 Test matches, which in all likelihood will be completed in the upcoming two-Test series against the West Indies.

Sunil Gavaskar says, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid my best students

New Delhi:  Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar hailed Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid's contribution to Indian and international cricket. He however told NDTV that choosing the better player is impossible.

Both Tendulkar and Dravid played their final T20 match on Sunday in the Champions League T20 title clash. They may have been playing the match for opposite teams but Gavaskar said their combination for India has been phenomenal. "Both are my absolute favourites. I would not even dare to take sides because it's like the left and the right hand and you need both your hands to perform. And they themselves agree - Rahul at three, Sachin at four have saved India so many times," he said. "The two have fed off each other and have been wonderful," he added. Dravid and Tendulkar hold the record for most number of century partnerships - 20 - in Tests.Dravid, in particular, did get Gavaskar's special accolade for his leadership skills. Leading his team through the Indian Premier League spot-fixing controversy was a brave and successful endeavor, he said. "If you look at how he rallied the team after what happened in May, to be able to build the confidence among each other in the dressing room is a huge thing."Gavaskar further said that he feels Dravid will be an able cricket administrator, moving forward. "Because he is such a great one for preparation, I think somebody like him would be fantastic as far as administration is concerned. He would certainly bring a lot of thought into it and that's what every administration needs," he said.

Retiring from Test cricket made me more emotional: Rahul Dravid

NEW DELHI: He has been the finest ambassador for India in the traditional form of the game and Rahul Dravid, after calling time on his cricket career, remained true to his first love -- Test cricket.

"It was (emotional) in some ways. It's when you give up Test cricket, that's when you feel emotional," Dravid said when asked whether he felt emotional turning up for Rajasthan Royals against Mumbai Indians in the last match of his professional career.

"It was a privilege to lead such a bunch. The franchise has gone through a lots of ups and downs. It has been the same group and there was great working environment," Dravid, who captained Rajasthan Royals to the final of Champions League T20, said.

As he has done on many occasions, Dravid did mention that the spot-fixing scandal involving India international S Sreesanth was "very disappointing".

"It wasn't an ideal thing to have happened. I don't want to comment specifically but those were extremely challenging times," Dravid told in an interview to a TV channel.

Dravid felt that the spot-fixing incident is a lesson for the cricket establishment that one needs to be "vigilant".

"Look, people who want to corrupt the game are not going to go away. It's a lot about the choices that an individual makes. We have to be vigilant."

Dravid gave a logical answer as to why he came in at No 8 during the final last night.

"Chasing a target with an asking rate of 11 per over is certainly not my strength at 40 plus," he laughed.

"It has been a memorable journey with the Royals. It started three years back and last two years, I have been a captain. The whole campaign has been excellent. Yesterday was a good night and I got a lovely reception from the Delhi crowd."

He was all praise for veteran Praveen Tambe who grabbed 12 scalps in the tournament to emerge as highest wicket-taker.

"While we play international cricket, we must never forget that we have the Praveens of the world playing for along with us in the club matches. It's a heart warming story of Praveen's skill, fortitude and attitude."

The best part about retirement according to Dravid "is not having to practise anymore".

"I will get to spend more time with my family. I haven't planned about my second innings. Right now however, I need a holiday."

Mumbai Indians beat Rajasthan Royals to win CLT20 2013 title

NEW DELHI: Mumbai Indians made it a golden Twenty20 season for themselves winning the Indian Premier as well as the Champions League T20 title in the same year. The Rohit Sharma-led side defeated Rahul Dravid's Rajasthan Royals by 33 runs to win the CLT20 for the second time at the Ferozeshah Kotla stadium on Sunday.

Scorecard | Match in Pics

Chasing 203 to win, Royals were in with a chance till Ajinkya Rahane (65) and Sanju Samson (60) were in the middle but Harbhajan Singh (4/32) and Kieran Pollard (3/31) cut short the chase.

Earlier, Sachin Tendulkar dazzled all-too-briefly in his last T20 game but his teammates put up a frenzied display of power-hitting to enable Mumbai Indians to reach a seemingly insurmountable 202/6 after being put in to bat.

With RR skipper Dravid playing his last competitive game, it was a day of farewells at the Ferozeshah Kotla. The hapless Royals bowlers, though, were left scratching their heads as MI's million-dollar baby Glenn Maxwell finally got it together to lead the late charge, smashing 37 off 14 balls (4x4, 2x6), including two fours and a six off James Faulkner's 19th over.

It was again Dwayne Smith, though, who got the innings going with a belligerent 44 (39b; 5x4, 1x6) before RR's 41-year-old leg-spinning sensation and the tournament's highest wicket-taker Pravin Tambe (4-0-19-2) got rid of him in the 12th over.

Tambe's efforts were undone somewhat as Shane Watson and Stuart Binny kept bowling loose deliveries, and after Ambati Rayudu departed for a 24-ball 29, the stage was set for another Rohit Sharma-Kieron Pollard spectacular.

The MI skipper didn't disappoint, pulling Binny over deep midwicket for maximum before both batsmen targeted Kevon Cooper, the 16th over yielding two sixes and a four and 20 runs before Faulkner uprooted Pollard's leg-stump in the next.

Sharma's belligerence too seemed to take a hit and he went soon after for 33 off 14, but Maxwell and Dinesh Karthik (15 off 5 balls) ensured no let-up in the rampage.

The final itself threatened to turn into a sideshow, though, as Tendulkar and Dravid hogged all the pre-match attention before Tendulkar took guard for what could be the last time at the Kotla.

Just when it seemed Tendulkar would stamp his authority on Watson, though, the bowler sent his off-stump cartwheeling. A subsequent guard of honour from MI players and a muttered "thank you" from the batsman brought the curtains down on Tendulkar's innings in coloured clothing.

Brief scores:

Mumbai Indians 202/6 (Smith 44, Maxwell 37, Rohit Sharma 33; Tambe 2/19) bt Rajasthan Royals 169 in 18.5 ovs (Rahane 65, Samson 60; Harbhajan 4/32, Pollard 3/31)

India series a chance to become no. 1 ODI side - Australia coach

MUMBAI: Their focus on the number one spot up for grabs in the upcoming ODI series against India, Australian captain George Bailey and coach Steve Rixon said the visitors are no longer intimidated by the sub-continental conditions courtesy the exposure they have got through the IPL.

The Aussies will start the tour with a one-off Twenty20 match in Rajkot on October 10 followed by seven ODIs.

"If you look at the tournament, it is not just a tournament but a chance to be number 1 in the world in one of the three formats," said Rixon at the first media conference of the squad after its arrival on Saturday night.

"So, it is very important to the players, the coaching staff and Cricket Australia. At the end of the day, we want to sit back and want to be part of the number one side," he added.
"Yes, we do know a few players that certainly I think one of the great things about the IPL, over the years. We have played at a lot of grounds that we are about to play at. Most of our players have played with and against a lot of Indian players, vice-versa, they have played with a lot of us," said Bailey who is leading the squad in the absence of injured regular ODI captain Michael Clarke.

"We know a lot about strengths and weaknesses and lot about the personalities, so there is absolutely some advantage for both the teams but also some areas to try and exploit," added Bailey who played for Chennai Super Kings, led by India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, in CLT20.

Rixon, a part of the support staff of CSK as its fielding coach, agreed with his captain, adding the squad still had plenty of work to do to get the better of the ICC World Cup and Champions Trophy holder.

Tiger Woods leads US to Presidents Cup

Tiger Woods clinched the Presidents Cup for the United States for the third time in a row on Sunday, giving the Americans an insurmountable 18-14 lead over the Internationals at rain-soaked Muirfield Village.

World number one Woods edged 41st-ranked Richard Sterne of South Africa 1 up to secure the trophy, thwarting an Internationals fightback and boosting the Americans to 8-1-1 in the overall rivalry with their fifth win in a row.

Battling nagging back spasms over the final five holes, Woods won the par-3 16th with a par, chipped from the rough to inches from the hole at 17 and halved 18 for the victory.

"It feels good," Woods said. "It was a tough day, tough conditions, rain, wind all around.

"(My back) acted up from 14 on in. It keep getting worse, a little tight, but I think we can find something for it."

His victory put the hosts up by four with only two matches on a course that saw heavy rain for the fourth day in a row, forcing lift, clean and place rules to be used.

"We've all slogged it out and did our best," said 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott of Australia.

It was the third triumph for Fred Couples as the US captain, all having ended Woods taking the winning point.

"Three in a row and Tiger has the winning point all three times -- that's pretty good," Couples said.

Internationals captain Nick Price was proud of the rally, winning four matches in a row with the US on the brink of clinching to create some drama until Woods came through.

"Against the might of America, that was a tall order for us," Price said. "The all played incredibly well. They tried their hardest and I'm proud to be their captain."

Aussie Jason Day won the first singles point 6 and 4 over Brandt Snedeker. The Muirfield Village member won four of the first six holes and led all the way.

"I just wanted to finish off with a bang," Day said. Hunter Mahan answered for the hosts, beating Japan's Hideki Matsuyama 3 and 2. Mahan birdied six and seven to take the lead for good and prevent an Internationals run.

"It is critical. You can't give them momentum," Mahan said. "I got off to a good start and felt like I was in control from there."

Jason Dufner, who won the PGA Championship two months ago, edged the US closer by beating Zimbabwe's Brendon de Jonge 4 and 3.

Dufner led from start to finish and won after de Jonge hit his tee shot way left into trees at the par-5 15th.

Canada's Graham DeLaet chipped in from a bunker at the 18th hole to beat Jordan Spieth 1-up.

Zach Johnson beat South African Branden Grace 4 and 2 to put the US on the brink of victory.

But Scott edged Bill Haas 2 and 1 and South African four-time major winner Ernie Els outlasted Steve Stricker 1-up to keep Internationals hopes alive for a draw.

Aussie Marc Leishman made a 10-foot par putt at 18 to edge Matt Kuchar 1-up and South African Charl Schwartzel beat Keegan Bradley 2 and 1 before Woods ended the drama.

The US team won 2 1/2 key points in foursomes matches that ended Sunday morning.

A foursomes key was when Snedeker and Simpson, 3-down after 12 at nightfall, won four of the last six holes to beat Schwartzel and Oosthuizen 1-up.

"I can't believe we did it but I'm happy to get the win," said Simpson. Els and De Jonge won 1-up over Woods and Kuchar, delivering the US duo's first defeat when Els made a five-foot par putt at 18.

Stricker and Haas beat Scott and Matsuyama 4 and 3 while DeLaet and Day halved with Mickelson and Bradley.

CLT20 final 2013 Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians

One of the big holes in the Mumbai arsenal, Sachin Tendulkar's poor form, might not be as big a worry anymore after he hit a 31-ball 35 against T&T in the semifinal. Along the way, he also became the 16th man to score 50,000 runs in recognised cricket. "We're all thrilled for Sachin. It's good to make 50,000 runs ... maybe a few more," smiled Wright after the semis.

"Always pleased for players, whoever they are, when they achieve something special. We're very fortunate as a franchise to have him; it's great for us. Tomorrow is even more special for that reason - definitely."

It promises to be a super game of Twenty20 cricket. Rajasthan's has been a fairy-tale story that probably deserves a happy ending, if only for the men, led by Rahul Dravid, who have come out and given such a good account of themselves. But Mumbai have looked so, so good when they have been on song and should be, keeping everything in mind, the favourites to add the CLT20 trophy, which they also won in 2011, to the IPL title they won earlier this year.

Teams:

Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (capt), Sachin Tendulkar, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Ambati Rayudu, Aditya Tare, Rishi Dhawan, Abu Nechim, Akshar Patel, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Smith, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn Maxwell.

Rajasthan Royals: Rahul Dravid (capt), Ajinkya Rahane, Stuart Binny, Sanju Samson (wk), Ashok Menaria, Dishant Yagnik, Vikramjeet Malik, Harmeet Singh, Rahul Shukla, Pravin Tambe, Shane Watson, Kusal Perera, James Faulkner, Kevon Cooper.