Today's other stories in brief
Death of umpire Shepherd
CRICKET: Former international umpire David Shepherd has died aged 68 following a long battle with cancer, Gloucestershire County Cricket club said yesterday.
Shepherd, who played for Gloucestershire for 14 years, stood in 92 Test matches and 172 one-day international games between 1983 and 2005.
He stood in three successive World Cup finals (1996, 1999 and 2003) and six overall.
Ireland U-19s handed a tough draw
CRICKET: Ireland's under-19 side have been handed a tough draw for the World Cup in New Zealand despite winning the qualifying event in Canada in September, writes Emmet Riordan.
Matt Dwyer’s side have been drawn in Group B alongside Australia and South Africa and the US, with group games taking place in Queenstown on the south island.
The top two teams qualify for the Super League quarter-finals, with the remaining sides entering a plate competition. Ireland have also lined up warm-up games against Afghanistan and the West Indies in Christchurch, before the event gets under way on January 15th.
ICC UNDER-19 WORLD CUP - Group A: India, England, Afghanistan, Hong Kong. Group B: South Africa, Australia, Ireland, USA. Group C: New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada. Group D: Pakistan, Bangladesh, West Indies, Papua New Guinea. Ireland’s fixtures - Jan 11th: v Afghanistan, warm-up, Christchurch; Jan 12th: v West Indies, warm-up; Jan 15th: v South Africa, Queenstown; Jan 17th: v Australia, Queenstown; Jan 19th: v USA, Queenstown. Jan 23rd-30th: Super League and plate competitions.
Confident Haye ready to rumble
BOXING: David Haye reckons he could not be in better shape as he prepares for his WBA world heavyweight showdown with giant Russian Nikolai Valuev.
Haye is just days away from his date with destiny on November 7th in Nuremburg and is delighted with his preparation.
The Londoner told Sky Sports News: “I feel good. I am not peaking yet, the idea is to peak on the night. I am going through the motions now, just holding a little bit in.”
Haye has moved up from cruiserweight in his bid for a heavyweight title and feels his punching power has gone up accordingly.
“I am definitely punching harder than ever,” he said. “My sparring partners have all said that. They were pretty shocked.”
Dhoni leads India to victory
CRICKET: A quickfire century by captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni set up India's 99-run victory over Australia in Nagpur yesterday as the home team levelled the one-day series 1-1.
Dhoni hit 124 off 107 balls, putting on 119 for the fourth wicket with Gautam Gambhir (76) and 136 for the next with Suresh Raina (62) to propel India to 354 for seven after they lost the toss in the day-night game.
After India compiled their highest one-day total against Australia, paceman Praveen Kumar took two early wickets, including skipper Ricky Ponting for 12, to help India bowl out the visitors for 255 in 48.3 overs.
Michael Hussey (53) hit his second consecutive half-century, but young left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja took three for 35 to trigger a middle-order collapse.
“We lost Sachin Tendulkar early but Virender Sehwag (40) and Gambhir gave us the start we needed,” said Dhoni.
Lel ruled out of New York Marathon
ATHLETICS:Twice winner Martin Lel of Kenya has pulled out of Sunday's New York City Marathon because of a leg injury, organisers said yesterday.
The 31-year-old Lel, the 2003 and 2007 champion, was coming off victory in last month’s Great North Half-Marathon in England, but a nagging injury began to bother him again, his manager said.
Lel had been considered one of the top contenders in a race that will feature holder and twice champion Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil. Double world champion Jaouad Gharib of Morocco and four-time Boston champion, Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot of Kenya, will also compete.
Russian Tatyana Petrova, winner of this year’s Los Angeles Marathon, withdrew from the women’s race due to illness.
Button and Brawn GP yet to agree on deal
FORMULA ONE: Jenson Button may be able to rest easy now he has the Formula One world title in his pocket, but his future remains far from settled.
In his own words, Button insists he can be “a little more relaxed” as he heads into the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday, safe in the knowledge he is world champion.
But the issue of his contract continues to hang over him because at present he does not have a drive for 2010 given the impasse he faces with Brawn GP over a new deal.
There have been expectant noises from both sides, with Button making it clear he wants to stay and team boss Ross Brawn claiming he is “99 per cent” certain the 29-year-old will remain.
Although Brawn are prepared to offer a pay rise above the €3.3 million per year Button earns, it falls short of the €8 million he is apparently seeking, the salary he previously enjoyed with Honda.
McLaren and Toyota wait in the wings to see how things develop.
