S.Africa retains top spot as world number one team in latest ICC rankings

South Africa retains its position as World number one team in the latest ICC Test cricket rankings followed by England and Australia. India continues to remain at the fifth spot after Pakistan.Australia’s star batsman Michael Clarke maintains his top billing among the test batsmen.He is closely followed by Protean Hashim Amla who replaces the Caribbean Shivnarain Chanderpaul at the second position. 

South African paceman Dale Steyn leads the pack of bowlers followed by fellow paceman Vernan Philander. 

India’s Pragyan Ojha is the lone Indian to figure in top ten. He is placed ninth among the test bowlers. Jacques Kallis remains as the number one test All rounder with his versatile performance.  

The latest ICC teat rankings were released in Dubai yesterday.

AITA to appoint special committee to address players' concern

The All India Tennis Association (AITA) on Saturday decided to appoint a special committee, likely to be headed by a retired judge, to address the demands made by revolting players.

The proposal to appoint the committee was made by AITA President Anil Khanna. It will be formed on 3rd February when the national federation proposes to have its next Executive Committee meeting.

The committee will be headed either by a retired judge or a senior retired government officer of equal status and an eminent tennis player.

It will go into the matters relating to Davis Cup and arrive at a suitable agreement with the players for Davis Cup matches.

A total of 11 players, including Somdev Devvarman, made themselves unavailable for the upcoming South Korea tie unless the AITA fulfill their demands with regards to playing conditions.

Simon Taufel – The First Umpire to deliver the MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture 2013

Simon Taufel, the umpire who has been the five-time ICC Umpire of the Year from 2004 to 2008 would be the first umpire to deliver the prestigious MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture that would take place on 24 July 2013. 

This announcement was made by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on 11 January 2013.

The lecture of 2013 would be the 13th lecture, ever since its inception and Taufel would be the third Australian after Adam Gilchrist (2009) and Richie Benaud (2001 – the first lecture) to deliver this lecture.

About MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture:

MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture first began in the year 2001 in the memory of the former Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) president Colin Cowdrey.

He played an important role in enshrinement of the Spirit of Cricket in the preamble of the Code of the Laws of Cricket in the year 2000

Sania Mirza and Bethanie Mattek-Sands wins Brisbane Title

Indian Tennis player Sania Mirza and her American partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands lifted the WTA Brisbane International trophy with a win against Kveta Peschke and Anna-Lena Groenefeld, with 4-6 6-4 10-7 in the summit face-off of the 1000000 US dollar event.

Important Points:

The win is supposed to be Sania's first doubles title of the season and 15th of her career.

Sania and Mattek earned 470 ranking points each and shared 51022 US Dollar as prize money.

Former England cricket captain Tony Greig passes away!

Former England captain and celebrated commentator (66) breathed his last at a hospital here after being brought in a "critical condition". In his 58-match Test career, Greig scored 3,599 runs and picked up 141 wickets. In 22 ODIs that he played, Greig scored 269 runs and managed 19 wickets. Greig turned into a successful commentator following the end of his playing career in 1977 and as forthright with his views.

Sachin Tendulkar retires from ODIs

Sachin Tendulkar has retired from ODI cricket. Tendulkar finishes an illustrious career in the 50-over format, having played 463 ODIs, scored 18,426 runs and made 49 centuries, each of them a world record. His last ODI was against Pakistan in Dhaka during the Asia Cup, where he made a half-century in India's victory.
Tendulkar made his ODI debut on his first international tour, in 1989, against Pakistan in Gujranwala, where he got a duck. He scored his first half-century in his ninth ODI and made an immediate impact when promoted to open the batting in 1994, in an ODI against New Zealand in Auckland, where he smashed 82 in 49 balls.
He was part of one of India's greatest ODI achievements over the last three decades, when they won the World Cup in 2011, beating Sri Lanka in the final on his home ground in Mumbai - it was his last ODI in India. 

Roger Federer receives Swiss Athlete of the Year award for 5th time

Roger Federer has received the Swiss Athlete of the Year award for the fifth time, it was announced on his website. Federer, 31, also clinched the award in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007.

Switzerland's Olympic triathlon champion Nicola Spirig was named the female Athlete of the Year.

Earlier in 2012, Federer had grabbed the 17th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon Championships, London, while also reclaiming his No. 1 ranking in the month of July 2012. He also acquired top most position by the end of the season.

Legendary Hockey player Leslie Claudius passes away

Legendary hockey player and one of India's greatest Olympians Leslie Claudius, passed away in Kolkata after a prolonged illness. He was 85-years-old.

Claudius was suffering from cirrhosis of the liver and frequently needed hospitalization in the past couple of years.

Claudius had three Olympic gold medals - London 1948, Helsinki 1952 and Melbourne 1956. At Rome in 1960, he led India to a silver-medal finish.

Former first class cricketer BB Nimbalkar passed away

Former first class cricketer BB Nimbalkar (93), known for unbeaten   443- run innings he played for Maharashtra against Kathiawar in a Ranji Trophymatch at Pune in 1948-49, passed away. That innings was second only to the Australian’s 452 not out is still 4^th highest in first class cricket.

He was often described as "a man who nearly beat Bradman" for his innings. He played cricket for various teams like Baroda, Holkar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Railways. 

Though, he never represented India in an official Test, he was an outstanding batsmen in the Ranji Trophy with an aggregate of 3,687 runs at a healthy average of 56.72 with 11 centuries.

Sardara Singh sold at highest price in HIL players' auction

Sarada Singh, the captain of Indian men hockey team and one of the marquee players has been topped in the list of auctioned players held on Sunday for upcoming Hockey India Legue (HIL).

HIL has been initiated to promote domestic hockey and its players in India, on the line of IPL in cricket.

In the HIL players' auction, Sardara Singh has been sold to the Delhi Wave Riders for the highest price of US$78,000.

Other marquee players sold at the auction were Australian Jamie Dwyer to Jaypee Punjab Warriors at $60,000, German Moritz Suertse for $75,500 to Ranchi Rhinos, and world's most capped player Teun de Nooijer of the Netherlands to Lucknow-based Uttar Pradesh Wizards for $66,000.

Unlike cricket's Indian Premier League (IPL), there were no problems with the auction of Pakistani players as the Mumbai franchisee bought Fareed Ahmed for $21,000 and Mohammed Rashid for $41,000.

India wins inaugural Blind Cricket T20 World Cup

India has won the inaugural Blind Cricket Twenty20 World Cup after beating Pakistan by 29 runs in the title clash in Bangalore today. Ketan Bhai Patel guided India to 258 with a hurricane knock of 98. The hosts restricted the visitors to 229 for 9 in the allotted 20 overs.

The victory is India's first in a World Cup final after they lost to Pakistan in 2006. Besides hosts India and Pakistan, the other partcipants in the tournament were Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka and Nepal .

Lionel Messi set the Record for most Goals in a Calendar Year

Lionel Messi, the renowned soccer player set the record for most goals in a calendar year by scoring his 86th goal of 2012. He set the record while scoring the winning goal against Real Betis. Messi's record included 12 for Argentina and 74 goals for Barcelona in 66 games.  The earlier record was made by Gerd Mueller who had scored 85 goals in 1972 which included 72 goals for his club Bayern Munich and 13 for his country West Germany.

Kobe Bryant became youngest ever player to reach the milestone of 30000 career points in NBA

Kobe Bryant, 34, achieved the title of youngest ever player to reach the milestone of 30000 career points in NBA (basketball) on 5 December 2012. He achieved the milestone when he took Los Angeles Lakers towards the 103-87 victory over New Orleans Homets. 

He is the youngest player in NBA history to reach this landmark at the age of 34 years. Chamberlain was aged 35 when he achieved this milestone; Malone and Abdul-Jabbar were 36 years of age while Jordan on the other hand was 38 years old to achieve this landmark. 

Bryant however was the fifth-fastest NBA player in context to the games played for reaching this milestone. He achieved this milestone in 1179th match. Chamberlain on the other hand achieved it in 941 games only.

IOC suspends IOA, Indian athletes can't compete in Olympics

In a decision made at the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) executive board meeting in Luassane, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has been suspended for holding elections under a controversial government sports code.
Suspension means the Indian body will stop receiving IOC funding and its officials will be banned from attending Olympic meetings and events. India's athletes will be barred from competing in Olympic events under their national flag, although the IOC could allow them to do so under the Olympic flag.
The IOC had repeatedly told the Indian body to adhere to its own constitution and the Olympic Charter and not follow the government's sports code for this week's elections. The IOC will not recognize the results if the elections are held under government rules.
The election, originally scheduled for last month, has been postponed to Wednesday following the resignation of election commission chairman SY Quraishi.

Ravindra Jadeja Creates history, hits 3rd triple ton in First Class Cricket

Ravindra Jadeja became the first Indian batsman and only the eighth in the first-class history to hit three triple-centuries as his career-best unbeaten 320 helped Saurashtra reach a mammoth 534 for six against Railways in a Ranji Trophy Group A match, in Rajkot on Sunday.

Jadeja, who had smashed 303 in the first match of the season against Gujarat, scored his second triple tonand third overall to become the only Indian cricketer to achieve such a feat.

Jadeja joined an elite list of seven others who have three triple tons to their credit. They are Sir Don Bradman, Brian Lara, Bill Ponsford, Wally Hammond, WG Grace, Graeme Hick, and Mike Hussey.

Yuvraj Singh Launched Saina Nehwal's autobiography 'Playing to Win'

India's flag bearer at the international level and world number 3 Saina Nehwal has said that the year 2012 has been the best so far for her in her entire Badminton career. Saina was in Delhi to unveil her autobiography 'Playing to Win' on Wednesday. Saina's maiden book was released by none other than Yuvraj Singh.

At the release of her autobiography 'Playing to Win' Saina said that the year 2012 has been the best year of her international career so far. "I believe that this has been my best year so far. I clinched four titles to add to the Olympic medal that I had won in London."

Sebastian Vettel wins his third F1 world championship

Sebastian Vettel became the youngest triple champion in Formula One history on 25 November 2012.He stood sixth position in Brazilian Grand Prix with 8 points.But overall he got F1 world title for this season with 281 points.

Vettel became only the third driver in Formula One history to win three successive titles, equalling the feats of the great Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio and his own childhood idol Michael Schumacher, who finished seventh for Mercedes in his final race before retiring.

Alonso's Ferrari team-mate, local hero Brazilian Felipe Massa, drove brilliantly to finish third ahead of Australian Mark Webber in the second Red Bull and German Nico Hulkenberg of Force India.

BCCI Awards 2011-12: Polly Umrigar Award to Virat kohli

BCCI Awards list:
CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award: Sunil Gavaskar

Special Award: VVS Laxman

Polly Umrigar Award for Cricketer of the Year: Virat Kohli

Madhavrao Scindia Award for Most Runs in Ranji Trophy: RobinBist

Madhavrao Scindia Award for Most Wickets in Ranji Trophy: Ashok Dinda

Lala Amarnath Award for the Best All-rounder in Ranji Trophy: Stuart Binny

Lala Amarnath Award for the Best All-Rounder in limited-overs tournaments: Laxmi Ratan Shukla

Legends honoured posthumously: Vijay Merchant, Vinoo Mankad, Dattu Phadkar, Ghulam Ahmed, Vijay Manjrekar, ML Jaisimha, Dilip Sardesai

MA Chidambaram Award for the Best U-16 Cricketer: Mohammad Saif (Uttar Pradesh)

MA Chidambaram Award for the Best U-19 Cricketer: Vijay Zol (Maharashtra)

MA Chidambaram Award for the Best U-22 Cricketer: Satyam Choudhary (Madhya Pradesh)

MA Chidambaram Award for the Best Senior Lady Cricketer: Anagha Deshpande (Maharashtra)

Best Umpire in Domestic Cricket: S Ravi

Best Association: Delhi & District Cricket Association

Yuvi- Book on Cricketer Yuvraj Singh authored by Makarand Waingankar Released

The book on Indian Cricketer Yuvraj Singh named Yuvi was released in third week of November 2012. Kapil Dev and Dilip Vengsarkar, the former cricketing legends were invited at the launch ceremony to offer insight on the cricketing star. 

Yuvi, the book on Yuvraj Singh is published by Harper Sport and written by Makarand Waingankar. The book illustrates the brilliance of cricket shown by Yuvraj Singh in his career as a cricketer and the way he recovered from Cancer.

Czech Republic wins Davis Cup title 3-2 over Spain

Radek Stepanek upset Nicolas Almagro in the final reverse singles to give the Czech Republic a 3-2 victory in the Davis Cup final and its first title as an independent nation.

The Czechs' only Davis Cup victory came in 1980 as Czechoslovakia, which split in 1993..

The 37th-ranked Stepanek beat his 11th-ranked opponent 6-4, 7-6 (0), 3-6, 6-3.

The 33-year old Stepanek, with some fine play at the net, converted his second match point to send more than 14,500 noisy fans at the O2 Arena into wild celebration Sunday.

The victory means the Czechs completed a rare double just two weeks after the women secured the Fed Cup title in the same arena. No country has won both competitions in the same year since the United States in 1990.