Melbourne, Feb. 5 : Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke has ruled himself out of this year''s Indian Premier League, citing Australia's busy international schedule.

"I won''t be going to the IPL. The most important thing for me is we''ve only got a couple of weeks off; we''ve got a very busy schedule. With me, with my body and time with my family, I want time off this year,'''' Fox Sports quoted Clarke, as saying.

Clarke, however, described the Twenty20 format as wonderful for the development of cricket in the long term, and added he could understand why so many other players did want to play in the Indian competition.

Melbourne, Feb. 4 : Australia's Test selectors should make a quick decision on who will replace Matthew Hayden as opener, said captain Ricky Ponting on Tuesday.

The Australian squad for the three-Test tour of South Africa will be named on Thursday, with boom youngster Phillip Hughes and Phil Jaques the leading contenders to fill the opening vacancy and partner Simon Katich.

Fever 104 FM has been declared as the exclusive and official radio partners of the Delhi Daredevils.

Confirming the development, Neeraj Chaturvedi, Station Head Fever 104 FM, said, “We are extremely pleased to continue our partnership with GMR Sports (owners of Delhi Daredevils). Like last year, apart from the coverage, we are working on new initiatives for the listeners.”

The Sri Lankan selectors had selected Tillakaratne Dilshan as the skipper for the Tuesday’s Twenty20 match against India next week.

Middle-order hard-hitting batsman Chamara Kapugedara has been selected as the vice-captain for the match.

Controversial fast bowler Lasith Malinga has been included to the 15 man squad. Due to a knee injury, Malinga had remained out for almost a year from the team. The fast bowler played his last match in February 2008 in an ODI against Australia in Melbourne.

Former Indian middle-order prolific batsman Ajay Jadeja has added another feather to his cap. The former cricketer has made his debut as a professional golfer at the PGTI Players Championship. The event will be played from February 3 to 6.

On his debut, Jadeja carded one-under 69 to be tied 12th along with the likes of Shamim Khan and Harendra Gupta. Jadeja was penalized by one stroke in the first hole. However, the former Indian ODI skipper left behind the seasoned S.S.P. Chowrasia.

Sydney, Feb. 4: Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting is convinced that troubled all rounder Andrew Symonds will make a comeback to international cricket sooner than later.

The Courier-Mail quoted Ponting as saying on Tuesday on the sidelines of a ceremony to give away the Allan Border Medal for
2008-09 that he was a strong supporter of Symonds and the value he brought to the Australian team.