Wellington, Feb. 23 : New Zealand Cricket is hoping that having a star-studded Indian team on tour will be a money-spinner for the sport.
Poised to boost earnings through lucrative broadcasting rights for the five-week tour, New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan said the sheer volume and passion of Indian fans around the world made this tour three times more valuable than any other.
"This year should be the best year New Zealand Cricket has ever had," stuff. co. nz quoted Vaughan, as saying.
Johannesburg, Feb 22 : Australian Vice-Captain Michael Clarke is likely to be ruled out of the first Test match against South Africa due to a serious back injury. The first Test match will start on Thursday.
Admitting the spasms and discomfort, Clarke had a couple of net sessions instead of playing a tour match against South Africa Board President's XI at Senwes Park.
His unavailability for the first Test match would be serious blow for Kangaroos who have lost their number one spot in recent times.
Various rumors about major sponsors deserting IPL have been floating in the air. On Friday, IPL chairman and commissioner, Lalit Modi nullified all the rumors.
He said that all the partners including, Sony Television/ World Sport Group (WSG) are with the IPL. In fact they have already paid whatever money they were committed to. We receive hundreds of payments and not a single partner has defaulted.
Sydney, Feb. 21 : Neil D''Costa is a cricket coach with a difference. He has made a name for himself by pitching two youngsters into the Australian Test squad in the last five years - Michael Clarke and Phil Hughes, and now his own career is also undergoing a change.
He has been invited to coach at a cricket academy in Nagpur, India.
Flown out to meet the boss, the chairman of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Shashank Manohar, he was astonished not only by the facilities, but also by Manohar's intelligence and vision.
Sydney, Feb 21 : South African broadcaster and sports writer Neil Manthorp has said that Australian players should behave more gracefully after end of their 15 years at the top.
Manthorp, who covered the Proteas' tour in Australia this summer, is clearly not impressed by the arrogant attitude of Australian players.
His basic complaint is that Australian cricketers remain as arrogant as ever, even though they have little now to be arrogant about, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.