London, Dec. 4: Though the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has sought a confirmation from players that they would travel to India next week, it is expecting a last minute defection from some of the team’s first-choice bowlers.

According to The Telegraph, a compromise has been reached that all players except injured fast bowler Ryan Sidebottom will travel to Abu Dhabi for a training schedule, but they will make a final decision on whether to tour or not to tour India only Sunday after receiving a security update from players'' representative Sean Morris.

ST. PAUL, Minn., Dec. 3  -- Niklas Backstrom bounced back from the worst performance of his career by making 22 saves Wednesday in Minnesota's 4-0 blanking of St. Louis.

The Wild won their fourth straight, getting a goal and an assist from both Eric Belanger and Marek Zidlicky.

On Monday against Colorado, Backstrom gave up a career-high six goals on 26 shots and was removed from the game after the second period. He came back against the Blues to record his 12th career shutout.

Chris Mason allowed three goals on 37 shots for St. Louis, which has dropped three out of four.

Los Angeles - Unhappy with their slow start, the Toronto Raptors fired coach Sam Mitchell on Wednesday, replacing him with assistant Jay Triano on an interim basis.

"This is a difficult but necessary step the franchise must take," Raptors President and general manager Bryan Colangelo said in a statement on the team's website. "We appreciate all that Sam has done for the organization. We applaud him for his successes and wish him nothing but the best with his future in basketball."

Mitchell's dismissal comes after the Raptors suffered an embarrassing, 132-93 road loss to the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night.

Los Angeles  - Unhappy with their slow start, the Toronto Raptors fired coach Sam Mitchell on Wednesday, replacing him with assistant Jay Triano on an interim basis.

"This is a difficult but necessary step the franchise must take," Raptors President and general manager Bryan Colangelo said in a statement on the team's website. "We appreciate all that Sam has done for the organization. We applaud him for his successes and wish him nothing but the best with his future in basketball."

AUBURN, Ala., Dec. 3  -- Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville announced his resignation Wednesday following a season-ending 36-0 loss to archrival Alabama.

The loss to the top-ranked and unbeaten Crimson Tide ended a disappointing 5-7 2008 season, and eliminated any chance at a bowl appearance.

TORONTO, Dec. 3 -- The Toronto Raptors fired Coach Sam Mitchell Wednesday following the team's 8-9 record starting the 2008-09 season.

The move was made a day after a 132-93 loss to the Nuggets in Denver and a 112-99 loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles on Monday.

"This is a difficult but necessary step the franchise must take," said team President and General Manager Bryan Colangelo. "We appreciate all that Sam has done for the organization, applaud him for his successes and wish him nothing but the best with his future in basketball."