CRICKET: It is challenging enough to be a sporting icon, without having to justify the reputation at 9.30 in the morning. India's Sachin Tendulkar, 31 not out overnight, was expected to tuck in his napkin and breakfast upon the England attack at Mohali, writes David Hopps.
He did just that, reaching 88 with the air of a man bound for a considerable feast, but then, with the waiters summoned and in attendance and the dishes groaning with food, he laid down his knife and fork and ate no more.
Matthew Hoggard dismissed him soon after lunch, forcing a thin edge to the wicketkeeper with a keen delivery of good length.
England still closed the third day 197 runs behind, grateful that their second innings remained undamaged by the final 20 overs. The last seven were played under floodlights. In the eerie yellow-grey half-light, Marcus Trescothick almost played on against Anil Kumble, jabbing at a yorker that spun high in the air and was casually back-heeled by the batsman over the top of his stumps.
After Jimmy Ormond had trapped Rahul Dravid on the crease with only 28 added to India's overnight 262 for three, it was left to Hoggard and Richard Dawson to work through the final six wickets. Hoggard had the best of them, not only Tendulkar but Sourav Ganguly, whose mistimed uppercut arced to Nasser Hussain at cover.
Dawson's wickets were a reward for containment: Vangipurappu Laxman, cutting to point; Sanjay Bangar, batting with a runner because of the hamstring injury that prevented him opening, slogging a high return catch; and Harbhajan Singh, yorked by a quicker ball.
ENGLAND first innings 238 (Nasser Hussain 85, M Trescothick 66; Harbhajan Singh 5-51).
SNOOKER: Michael Judge trails Peter Ebdon 3-5 heading into today's play in the UK Championship at York. Ebdon had a total clearance of 143 in the fifth frame.
Fergal O'Brien fared much better against Malta's Tony Drago. He produced some devastating potting to make breaks of 59, 80, 98 and 90 and gain a 6-2 overnight advantage.
ROWING: Tim Foster (31) announced his retirement from international competition yesterday to concentrate on coaching.
A member of the British coxless four in which Steve Redgrave won a record fifth gold medal at the Sydney Olympics, Foster also won Olympic bronze (1996) and seven World Championships medals (two gold, two silver and three bronze).
He recovered from recent knee surgery but said: "I think my body is trying to tell me something."
ATHLETICS: Dieter Baumann, who claimed his positive nandrolone test was caused by spiked toothpaste, will be allowed to run again from January 21st. The IAAF yesterday waived a ban on the Olympic 5,000 metres gold medallist.
MOTOR SPORT: Silverstone could be axed from the F1 calendar at a FIA meeting next week. The fixture is dependent on the results of a report on traffic conditions.
