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The Supreme Court today restrained Doordarshan from downlinking the live feed of the upcoming India-West Indies Test and ODI matches, the exclusive telecast rights of which are with TEN Sports.TEN Sports had filed a petition seeking stay of the government guidelines making it mandatory for sports channels to share feed of sporting events of national importance with Prasar Bharti.A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhan directed that Prasar Bharti should not take any coercive step or action for obtaining the live feed of the matches.TEN Sports had challenged the Bombay High Court order of December 21, 2005. The matter pending before the high court was later transferred to the Supreme Court. The private channel contended that if the matches were telecast on Doordarshan it would suffer huge losses.Earlier, the court had allowed live telecast of India-Pakistan ODIs on Doordarshan after TEN Sports and Prasar Bharti reached an agreement that the latter would deposit a sum of Rs 15 crore in court.However, the bench justified the previous decision saying that “matches of an Indo-Pak series are different from the others … For West Indies, many people may not be interested.”

2nd day
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAfter declaring at 458 for 8, led by Zander de Bruyn’s 134, the Titans and a few diehard SuperSport Park supporters were given a lesson in aggressive batting with Davey Jacobs’s excellent 149 off 134 balls, sending the ball to the boundary on 21 occasions and clearing it a further five times. His dominance with the bat was evident when Gerhardus Liebenberg contributed only 22 to their century partnership, while Boeta Dippenaar contributed 31 to the second-wicket hundred stand. Dippenaar will continue on day three with 34 on the board.2nd day
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAt Kingsmead, after dismissing JP Duminy for 112, the Dolphins made quick work of the tail to restrict WPBOL to 346. Mfuneko Ngam, having spent most of the day on the physiotherapist’s table, returned to take two wickets with the 16 balls he bowled on day two. Shaun Pollock finished with four while Lance Klusener, Johann Louw and Ngam took two each. Dolphins struggled to 133 for five before Pollock (52*) and Hashim Amla (106) recovered the innings to 236 for six. A lot of hard work remains for the Dolphins to save the game.2nd day
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsA concerted batting effort from the Lions, scoring 375 with Werner Coetsee undefeated on 70, made way for their bowlers who also got in on the act as the Warriors faltered with very little fight to be struggling at 134 for seven when bad light brought an end to their misery. In trouble at 46 for four, Mark Boucher and Pieter Strydom put up some token resistance but wickets fell at constant intervals to leave them floundering at the end of the day. With very little batting to come Strydom will have to dig deep to get his team back into the game.

Darren Gough insists he never gave up hope of earning a recall to England’s one-day side, and has now set his sights on completing the double of 200 wickets in both forms of the game.”I’m just looking forward to being back among the lads again,” Gough told the Essex website, after being named in England’s squad for the seven-match series against West Indies that follows the Tests. “I just want to play international cricket again, because I think I still have a lot to offer. You never give up hope. As long as I’m fit then I still believe I am good enough.”Gough’s future had been in doubt when he was omitted from the one-day squad for the pre-Christmas trips to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, but after sizing up their options the selectors realised there was no substitute for experience. “They looked at other players,” said Gough, “but I guess it’s flattering that they have come back to me for the West Indies series.”He went on: “If some of the youngsters can follow my lead in practice then I believe that will help them in the long run – that’s one of the reasons why they want me around the team. But from a selfish point of view I want to get 12 wickets to reach 200 [in one-day internationals].”Joining Gough in the one-day squad is Steve Harmison, whose stunning form in the Jamaica and Trinidad Tests virtually guaranteed his inclusion. He hopes to be able to make an impact this time around, after a stuttering start to his one-day career in Australia last winter, where he infamously bowled seven wides in an over in a warm-up match in Lilac Hill.”It would be nice to get rid of what happened in Australia and prove I can play one-day cricket,” he said. “But I’m going to take one step at a time and hopefully things will go as well as the Test matches.”

HOBART, Feb 27 AAP – South Australia lost two early wickets in its attempt to chase Tasmania’s first innings tally of 285 at stumps on day one of the Pura Cup match at Bellerive Oval today.The visitors ended day one on two for 17 from eight overs and are desperate for an outright victory to stay in contention for the final.But fast-bowler Gerard Denton had other ideas, dispatching Redbacks’ openers Shane Deitz (5) and David Fitzgerald (9) in successive overs for figures of two for nine.Allrounder Dan Marsh earlier proved the Tigers’ saviour, delivering an innings-topping 111 runs after coming to the crease with the home team wallowing on four for 66 in 21.2 overs.Marsh withstood the Redbacks’ consistent attack to take his fifth domestic first-class century in 186 minutes off 156 balls before being clean bowled by Ben Johnson.The 29-year-old’s partnership with Sean Clingeleffer (44) yielded 96 runs.SA strike bowler Paul Rofe was also a top performer, taking five for 62 in 22 overs including the prize scalp of Tigers’ skipper and opener Jamie Cox for 22.After winning the toss, Cox reached the 10,000-run tally in domestic first-class cricket before falling LBW to Rofe.Starting out just 10 runs shy, Cox joined Australian World Cup batsman Darren Lehmann (11,095) and former South Australian batsman Jamie Siddons (10,643) on the milestone.Cox later said rumours he planned to retire – floated in a television interview last week – were untrue.”I really still feel quite good,” he said.”All year I have managed to get to 20 or 30 very easily.”I feel I can play certainly another three or four years, form permitting.”He described Marsh’s form today as “outstanding”.Languishing on the bottom of the Cup ladder, the Tigers started the day plagued by injury.Already down Damien Wright and Ben Oliver, the home team suffered a further blow this morning when paceman Adam Griffith failed a fitness test on a calf strain and left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty was ruled out after lacerating his left knee during warm-up exercises.

Warwickshire took up the challenge thrown down by the Notts captain – Darren Bicknell – when left-hander David Hemp blazed 105 off 101 balls to set up a positive finish to the CricInfo Championship game at Edgbaston.Bicknell reclaimed the Notts captaincy when Jason Gallian, in his first Championship match of the season following knee surgery, suffered a broken knuckle that may keep him out for the rest of the season when batting against Vasbert Drakes.Bicknell promptly declared Notts’ innings at 350-6 – 23 behind, after Greg Blewett, Usman Afzaal and Kevin Pietersen had all fallen with centuries within sight.This put the onus on Warwickshire and, after losing two early wickets, they came good with a stand of 163 in 28 overs between Hemp and Nick Knight.Hemp hit two sixes and 17 fours before his middle stump was flattened by Greg Smith. But Knight stayed unbeaten on 74 as Warwickshire reached 214-3 – 237 runs ahead.

Yorkshire Phoenix maintained their challenge for the National League Division One title with a comfortable six-wicket victory over Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Wantage Road.Paceman Matthew Hoggard (5-30) and Darren Gough (3-19) both celebrated their selection in England’s Test squad for the winter with outstanding bowling stints as the home side, who opted to bat first, were skittled for just 109.And Yorkshire survived the early loss of Victor Craven and Michael Vaughan to reach their target, and record their eighth win of the campaign, with 14.3 overs to spare.Northants were unable to recover after Hoggard and Gough removed key batsmen Mal Loye, Matthew Hayden and David Sales in successive overs with the new ball.They slumped further to 22-5 before Graeme Swann (25) offered some token resistance, and some measure of respectability was achieved thanks to Kevin Innes (27 not out) and Darren Cousins (18) who posted 40 in 15 overs for the ninth wicket.But it was another stunning effort from Yorkshire’s bowlers who had dismissed Lancashire Lightning for 68 and Leicestershire Foxes for 53 in their two previous National League outings.Needing early wickets to stay in the game, Northants saw their hopes rise briefly as Craven drove Tony Penberthy to mid-off and Darren Cousins knocked off Michael Vaughan’s off stump.But Yorkshire nerves were steadied by acting-skipper Darren Lehmann (37) and Anthony McGrath (36 not out) as Hayden’s men suffered their first defeat in eight matches in all competitions.

Post Tour Rehab Advice and Protocols
-L ACL deficient knee, subluxation episode Perth Test vs Australia Jan ’08
-MRI and investigation with sports physician at that time. Mx plan instigated
-Full reassessment with Dr David Young (orthopaedic surgeon) in Melbourne Feb ’08. Confirmed his availability to return to cricket (see full report in clinical notes).
-Plan post Australia tour will be on emphasis of strengthening and stability without high impact activity.
-Must have min 2 weeks (ideally 3) break from cricket and excessive loaded activities.
-Emphasis on x-training (swimming, cycling, water running)
-Maintenance of stability program, balance exercises and gluteal retraining
Things to Watch-pain posterior knee
-obvious swelling and persistence of swelling
-morning stiffness+
-fielding positions (straighter approach and attack to the ball, care on turning etc)
-Instability. Another episode of subluxation and giving way = Surgical Intervention required
– L great toe
-stress # through distal phalanx great toe (left), secondary to shape of phalanx
-significant healing/callous formation already evident (Dr. David Young, Dr. Michael Johnson, Dr. Soni). See full reports and scans in clinical notes
-min 2 – 3 weeks rest from bowling and running post tour. No compromise on this instruction
-allow pain to subside and full healing of # to complete.
-Strength and focus on core stability, gluteal strength, quadriceps strength and hamstring/hip flexor flexibility
R forefinger acute tendon sheath inflammation
– continue with anti-inflammatory techniques (NSAIDS, Ice, Co-Bahn, gel STM etc) until resolved
-L hamstring tendon enthesopathy (Dx. Dr David Young)
-Will require min 2 weeks rest from bowling and running post tour
-To avoid long distance running, running on inclines etc,br>-Continue with deep Tr Friction Rx to area, hamstring release STM, neural stretches etc
-To continue to monitor condition.
-Once this condition starts to impede his ability to bowl then surgical intervention will need to be considered (see full report, Dr David Young in clinical notes)
-R adductor tendonosis (? enthesopathy) with deep hip flexor involvement
-Requires min 2 weeks rest post tour from aggravating (pain inducing) activities
-Must not allow this condition to settle into ‘chronic phase’ otherwise may take further 2 weeks to control
-Once pain settles then commencement of deep release massage therapy to region, flexibility for R hip region incl adductors and flexors
-Once pain free then recommence basic strength training to adductors initially in water then with band resistance
-requires min 2 weeks break from competitive cricket to concentrate on conditioning
-main focus areas are to be low back, sides and shoulder strength/stability
-L ankle instability
-Emphasis on continual strength/stability and proprioceptive rehab of L ankle as well as ongoing glut med strengthening
-R shoulder and scapular stability maintenance program ++
-? requires cortisone injection into R DIP forefinger. # 2004, now sensitive+ and requires some form of intervention to alleviate sensitivity from recent knocks
-R hand 4th finger DIP severe sprain ? # 2nd final vs Australia 5th March
-Will need to be x-rayed on return to India and treatment avenue pursued

Marcus Trescothick made the most emphatic statement to date that his rehabilitation is on track with an unbeaten 185 as Somerset made Northamptonshire regret their decision to bowl at Northampton.With Michael Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen picking up injuries ahead of the first Test against West Indies it was another timely reminder of Trescothick’s destructive ability, although he has repeatedly said he won’t be rushing back to the international scene.”I need a few more knocks like that and for my form to continue over a good period of time,” Trescothick said. “I would play tomorrow if I thought that I was fit enough. But there are a few more hurdles for me to overcome before I am at that stage. I’ve stated my position a number of times in media interviews and I had a chat with Michael Vaughan last week so I think they know what the position is.”Trescothick has been in good nick throughout the early weeks of the season and took full advantage of benign conditions to reach his first first-class ton for a year. It took him 173 balls, and his only alarm came when Rob White missed a run-out chance on 91 as David Sales was left regretting his decision to bowl.Fellow left-hander Justin Langer, who has been in prolific form, joined Trescothick in a second-wicket stand of 196. Seemingly set for his own century, Langer was caught at wide long-on off Monty Panesar, a second scalp for the left-arm spinner, who was the only wicket-taker as the other bowlers struggled against the in-form batting line-up.

Matthew Hayden showered praise on Ricky Ponting, who hit his 30th Test century during the second Test against South Africa. Hayden scored 102 and Ponting made 116 in a second-wicket stand of 201 that took the game away from South Africa.Praising his captain, Hayden said: “He’s head and shoulders No.1 in the world, there’s no question about that. On all surfaces, in all conditions he’s been the dominant player of the last two years. He’s definitely going to be Australia’s finest for a long time. At such a young age, he’s really mastered all of the conditions as well. He’s just one of those players who is going to be a generational player in years to come. [It’s] awesome.Commenting on his big stand with Ponting, Hayden said: “It’s a great partnership as well. We’ve always enjoyed batting together. He’s just keeping it very simple at the moment. He’s got all shots right the way around the wicket.”Ponting, who scored 103 in the first innings, has now overtaken Don Bradman in the list of all-time century-makers and is now close on the heels of Sachin Tendulkar, who leads the way with 35 centuries.Monday’s hundred saw Ponting equal another record – he became the second player, after Sunil Gavaskar, to score centuries in each innings of a Test three times. While Gavaskar took eight years to achieve the feat, from 1970-1971 to 1978-1979, Ponting needed just eight matches.

The residence of Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, in a posh south Delhi locality, was raided by police on Tuesday and one of the two vehicles – a blue Maruti Gypsy – employed in the alleged poaching of an endangered black buck last week was seized.A First Information Report was registered against Pataudi and seven others on Monday, and the authorities had asked them to report to Jhajjar police for investigation. The deadline has been extended to 5pm on June 10, failing which they could be arrested.Pataudi, the former Indian cricket captain, finds himself facing arrest after the carcass of the endangered species of antelope was found in the boot of his car. Pataudi, who captained India in 40 of his 46 Tests, was one of eight people held by police in the north Indian state of Haryana.According to the Press Trust of India, he had been charged under sections 9, 39 and 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, after a rare black buck, and two rabbits, were found during a routine police check in Jhajjar on Friday night.Police sources added that two guns, 50 cartridges and two search lights had also been recovered. If found guilty of the offence, Pataudi, 64, could face up to seven years in prison.Nicknamed “Tiger”, Pataudi was born into a Muslim royal family in Madhya Pradesh in 1941, and was appointed as India’s captain at the age of 21. He scored 2793 runs in a 13-year Test career, although that tally might have been significantly greater had he not suffered near-blindness in his right eye, after a car accident while at Oxford University.