Cricketers In Their Childhood - Rare Photographs

Rare Childhood Photographs of Cricketers

Childhood Picture of Andrew Staruss

Childhood Picture of Chris Cairns

Childhood Picture of M.S.Dhoni

Gautam Gambhir with his sister Ekta

Childhood Picture of Imran Khan

Childhood Picture of Rahul Dravid

Childhood Picture of Ricky Ponting

Sachin Tendulkar with Coach Mr. R. Achrekar

The Great with The Greatest- Sachin Tendulkar (right) with Sir Don Bradman (left)

Childhood Picture of Sachin Tendulkar

Childhood Picture of Saurav Ganguly

Childhood Pictures of Steve Waugh and Mark Waugh

Childhood Picture of Wasim Akram

Childhood Picture of Yuvraj Singh

Childhood Picture of Zaheer Khan

Eric Tindill- Oldest "All Black" and Test Cricketer Dies at 99!

Oldest "All Black" and Surviving Test Cricketer Eric Tindill Dies at 99

New Zealand All Blacks Piri Weepu and Molly Tindill with former New Zealand All Black and Test Cricketer Eric Tindill in his 99th birthday at his home on December 18, 2009 in Wellington, New Zealand

Eric Tindill- who has the unique status to represent New Zealand in both Cricket and Rugby as a player and referee (Rugby) and Umpire (Cricket) died on Sunday in Wellington Hospital. He was 99 years 226 days.

At 99 years, he was the longest living Test Cricketer and oldest Rugby international.

A left-handed batsman and wicketkeeper, Eric Tindill played five cricket Tests for New Zealand between 1937 and 1947. He also represented the All Blacks rugby team 17 times between 1935 and 1938, making his only Test appearance in a 13-0 loss to England in 1936.

He was referee in two rugby Tests between the All Blacks and British and Irish Lions in 1950 and New Zealand's second Test against Australia in 1955. He then umpired New Zealand's cricket Test against England at Christchurch in the summer of 1958-59.

Although George Dickinson, Curly Page, Charlie Oliver, Jeff Wilson and Brian McKechnie also represented New Zealand in both rugby and cricket, Tindill was the only player to play Tests in both the sports.

May His Soul Rest in Peace!

News Courtesy: The Canadian Associated Press
Image Courtesy: Zimbio.com

All White's (NZ) World Cup 2010 Squad

New Zealand World Cup Squad Announced

Goalkeepers

James Bannatyne Team Wellington
Glen Moss Melbourne Victory (AUS)
Mark Paston Wellington Phoenix

Defenders

Andy Boyens New York Red Bulls (USA)
Tony Lochhead Wellington Phoenix
Ryan Nelsen Blackburn Rovers (ENG)
Winston Reid FC Midtjylland (DEN)
Ben Sigmund Wellington Phoenix
Tommy Smith Ipswich Town (ENG)
Ivan Vicelich Auckland City

Midfielders

Andy Barron Team Wellington
Leo Bertos Wellington Phoenix
Jeremy Brockie Newcastle Jets (AUS)
Tim Brown Wellington Phoenix
Jeremy Christie Tampa Bay Rowdies (USA)
Aaron Clapham Canterbury United
Simon Elliott Unattached
Michael McGlinchey Central Coast Mariners (AUS)
David Mulligan Unattached

Forwards

Rory Fallon Plymouth Argyle (ENG)
Chris Killen Middlesbrough (ENG)
Shane Smeltz Gold Coast (AUS)
Chris Wood West Bromwich Albion (ENG)

Aimee Watkins, Stephanie Rice Rated World's Sexiest Sportswoman

Lindsay Vonn (Skier), Stephanie Rice (Swimmer), Nicole Vaidisova (Tennis), Aimee Watkins (Cricketer)
New Zealand women's cricket captain Aimee Watkins has been rated among the world's 64 hottest female athletes alongside American skier Lindsay Vonn, Aussie swimmer Stephanie Rice and Czech tennis player Nicole Vaidisova.


27-year-old Watkins admitted the ratings by Yahoo!Xtra came as surprise, as she does not consider herself as one of the world's sexiest sportswomen.

"I didn't know anything about it," Watkins said. "I've seen it now. Mum gave me a call and she was pretty excited and told me to go on and have a look. Since then I've had a bit of stick but, oh well. It's all a bit foreign to me."


Sports editor of Yahoo!Xtra, Mike Kilpatrick, the main driving force behind the idea of finding the sexiest sportswoman, said he had been following Aimee Watkins' career since he was at university and she seemed like a natural choice for the top 64.

"We equally appreciate field talent as much as their looks," he said. "I consider Aimee one of the foremost talents in women's cricket.


News Courtesy: Stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket

New Zealand Warriors – NRL surprise packets

What would an NRL league season be without controversy? The NRL rugby league season is only two weeks old and already we have a side being deducted the points for winning as they had too many people on the field, we have last year's premiers winless and we have one of the dark horses playing some fantastic football.

That dark horse is the New Zealand Warriors who currently sit in top spot on the NRL ladder. They've done well in defeating Parramatta and Manly and would be firming in NRL betting. Last year they shocked Melbourne in the finals with one of the biggest surprise NRL results witnessed in some time. It looks like they have built on that momentum and overcome the tragic loss of Sonny Fai. This is one of the saddest stories ever to have happened in the NRL rugby world but it could be one which galvanizes the Warriors and inspires them to their first NRL title.

In this early stage of the competition, you don't want to get carried away. There is still plenty of time to regroup but you don't want to dig yourself too much of a hole too early. It's critical to maintain at least a 50% ratio in the win-loss column.

All Black Adam Thomson Charged With Assaulting A Female

Police sources confirmed that Adam Thomson, 26, was arrested early yesterday (21st Dec, Sunday) in Havelock North and has been charged with assaulting a female.

Thomson was processed at the Hastings police station and will appear in the Hastings District Court tomorrow.


Highlanders chief executive Richard Reid said he found out about the incident yesterday, but did not know any details.

"All I'm aware of is that there was some sort of incident."

Thomson was on annual leave. It was too soon to talk about disciplinary measures, Reid said.

New Zealand Rugby Union professional rugby manager Neil Sorensen said he was also aware of the incident.

"But as it is a police matter, it would be inappropriate to make any further comment at this stage."

The 1.96m tall loose forward has represented New Zealand at various levels in rugby since 2000. Thomson also plays for the Highlanders in the Super 14.

News Source : www.Stuff.co.nz

Rugby World Cup 2011 : All Blacks in Pool A, Wallabies in Pool C, Springboks in Pool D

Tournament hosts New Zealand were drawn alongside France in the draw for the 2011 Rugby Union World Cup. Old rivals England

and Scotland were paired alongside one another in a World Cup pool for the first time.

The All Blacks and France are the two top-ranked teams in a Pool A also featuring Tonga, and qualifiers still to be

determined from the Americas and Asia.

England and Scotland are in the same Pool B as Argentina, third-placed finishers at the 2007 World Cup and, as yet, unknown

qualifiers from Europe and the winners of a global play-off competition.

Reigning champions South Africa are in a Pool D featuring Fiji, Six Nations champions Wales and qualifiers from Oceania and

Africa.

Australia are in Pool C with Ireland, Italy and qualifiers from Europe and the Americas.

Pool Draw

Pool A: New Zealand, France, Tonga, Americas 1, Asia 1

Pool B: Argentina, England, Scotland, Europe 1, Play-off winner

Pool C: Australia, Ireland, Italy, Europe 2, Americas 2

Pool D: South Africa, Wales, Fiji, Oceania 1, Africa 1

Quarter Final 1: Winner Pool B v Runner-up Pool A

Quarter Final 2: Winner Pool C v Runner-up Pool D

Quarter Final 3: Winner Pool A v Runner-up Pool B

Quarter Final 4: Winner Pool D v Runner-up Pool C

Semi-Final 1: Winner QF1 v Winner QF2

Semi-Final 2: Winner QF3 v Winner QF4

Third place playoff: Loser SF1 v Loser SF2

Final: Winner SF1 v Winner SF2

Image Courtesy: AFP Pictures

Andy Moles Appointed new New Zealand National Cricket Coach

New Zealand appointed Englishman Andy Moles as national team cricket coach, replacing John Bracewell from next week.

Bracewell, who took over the Black Caps in 2003, will coach English county team Gloucestershire from next season and agreed to step aside early to allow Moles to begin his tenure with a home series, New Zealand Cricket said in a statement.

Moles, 47, forged his reputation in New Zealand coaching Northern Districts and previously led Kenya and Scotland. The former Warwickshire batsman, who never played for England, will get his first action against West Indies starting Dec. 11.

“Andy has an outstanding coaching background,” Justin Vaughan, New Zealand Cricket’s chief executive officer, said in the statement. “He has made a real impact at Northern Districts over the past two seasons and also brings more than 15 years experience coaching at international level.”

Bracewell, whose contract was due to run into 2009, leaves the team ranked seventh in Test cricket and fifth in one-day internationals. His record in Tests so far is 13 wins, 19 defeats and eight draws, while in one-day internationals he is 62-46-1 and in Twenty20 games 5-10-1.

News Courtesy: http://www.bloomberg.com/

Bledisloe Cup Rugby Test : NZ Beats Australia 39-10

The All Blacks against Australia at Eden Park

New Zealand beat Australia 39-10 in a Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup rugby test at Eden Park on Saturday. The half-time score was 21-10.

Scorers:

New Zealand 39
Tony Woodcock 2, Ma'a Nonu 2 tries; Daniel Carter 2 conversions, 5 penalties

Australia 10
Adam Ashley-Cooper try; Matt Giteau conversion, penalty

Tony Woodcock scored 2 tries

Baby Black Rugby Star Robert Hickland Dies

Baby Blacks rugby star Robert Hickland, 17, has died from severe neck injuries sustained while playing last month.

This New Zealand under-17 representative was playing for Feilding High School's first 15 against Rathkeale College 1st 15 on June 28 when he broke his neck in a tackle. He was taken to Christchurch's Burwood Hospital where he underwent operations and appeared to be improving before losing the fight.

Feilding coach Rick Francis had earlier praised Robert, and described him as a future All Black, was a rare talent.

My deepest condolence to Robert's family. Rugby World has missed a star in the making. May his soul Rest In Peace.

Rugby: All Black Jerome Kaino Charged With Drinking And Driving

New Zealand rugby star Jerome Kaino, has faced Auckland District court on a drink driving charge. He has fined $US600 and has had his licence cancelled for six months, after being breath-tested when he was involved in an accident in Auckland last month.

England Charged...Now is it the turn for the All Blacks?

RUGBY: SOUTH AFRICAN Team For 2ND TRI NATION RUGBY TEST

South African team named on Thursday to play New Zealand in the second Tri-Nations rugby test in Dunedin on Saturday.

South Africa: 15-Percy Montgomery, 14-JP Pietersen, 13-Adrian Jacobs, 12-Jean de Villiers, 11-Bryan Habana, 10-Butch James, 9-Ricky Januarie, 8-Joe van Niekerk, 7-Juan Smith, 6-Schalk Burger, 5-Victor Matfield (captain), 4-Bakkies Botha, 3-CJ van der Linde, 2-Bismarck du Plessis, 1-Gurthro Steenkamp.

Replacements: 16-Schalk Britz, 17-Brian Mujati, 18-Andries Bekker, 19-Luke Watson, 20-Ruan Pienaar, 21-Francois Steyn, 22-Conrad Jantjes.

New Zealand Television Shows Porn Instead Of Rugby

Rugby fans in New Zealand who tuned into a mid-afternoon highlights show got more than they bargained for Sunday when they were treated to four minutes of hardcore pornography.

A spokesman for Prime Television blamed a mixup in "distribution processes" for the error which inserted the hardcore segment in the regular program "Grassroots Rugby."

The segment was intended to air on an adult pay-per-view channel.

Rival television channels reported some viewers were "shocked and disgusted" by the mixup, which occurred around mid-afternoon.

Prime has apologized for the error.

"We apologize for any offense which may have been caused," spokesman Tony O'Brien tells The New Zealand Herald.

"(I was) horrified! It is not the sort of thing I want my 12-year-old to see on TV," Lorraine Watts tells ONE News. "It was a full blown sex scene."

News Courtsey: http://blogs.usatoday.com/

England's New Zealand Tour Sex Scandal: David Strettle "pressed all the right buttons" Of Sophie Lewis

Sophie Lewis sensationally reveals that the "RAMPANT RABBIT" who bedded her at the team hotel was winger David Strettle.


"He pressed all the right buttons and kissed me in all the right places," she says. "He was so energetic."

But Strettle was missing from England's latest humiliating defeat in New Zealand yesterday with a hamstring injury.
ALICE'S SEX WONDERLAND: David was fantastic says Sophie.

The 22-year-old beauty—known as Angel—also tells how players didn't have to sneak girls back from a sleazy club for sex on the night of the alleged rape.

That's because they were FERRIED there in a minibus laid on by the OFFICIAL MINDERS supposed to be keeping an eye on the team's behaviour.

Sophie, who had been at a fancy dress bash, also details the EIGHT-HOUR BOOZE SESSION of a team who have now been hammered twice by the All Blacks on their New Zealand tour of shame.

And she says Harlequins ace Strettle, 24, even BRAGGED to her after their marathon sex session that another FIVE of his team-mates had been scoring that night too.

Sophie, 22, said: "My England man put rampant rabbits to shame—even though he'd been drinking all night," said 22-year-old Sophie.

"We did it all night long before he got up at eight to go for physio. He was probably still drunk then.

"His body was pretty much a perfect 10. He was such an accomplished lover and we did it in every position imaginable. But maybe he shouldn't have been behaving like this on an international rugby tour.

"And although it was just about the best sex I've ever had—it's not something that will go down well with the fans."


Content and Image Courtsey: http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/2206_rampant_rugby.shtml

New Zealand Soccer Administrator Charlie Dempsey Dies At 86

Charlie Dempsey - New Zealand Soccer administrator, who gained world wide notoriety when he ensured Germany won the right to host the 2006 World Cup, died in Auckland, Tuesday. He was 86.

In 2000 Dempsey, decided not to cast his vote at a FIFA congress, because he didn't want to make enemies. He had gone against Oceania Football Confederation wishes to bid for South Africa for 2006 World Cup.

Charlie Dempsey was elected president of the OFC in 1992, and onto the FIFA executive in 1996. He was head of the New Zealand Football Association (now Soccer New Zealand) when New Zealand appeared for the first time in the World Cup finals in 1982 in Spain.

Rugby: New Zealand Tour Sex Scandal: Danny Care, Topsy Ojo, Mike Brown And David Strettle

Four Alleged England Rugby Players Involved In NZ Sex Scandal

Danny Care

Mike Brown

David Strettle

Topsy Ojo

British tabloid "The Sun" today named the four England Rugby players caught in the New Zealand tour sex scandal.

They are Danny Care, Topsy Ojo, Mike Brown and David Strettle. Two of the players have reportedly admitted a three in a bed romp with a lap-dancer while two more watched at the Hilton hotel. But the England players are adamant that they had sex after the girl agreed.

The girl is a 18-year-old lapdancer and claimed that she was raped at Hilton Hotel after a booze party. But she did not make any formal complaints with the New Zealand Police. All the 4 alleged rugby players were allowed to leave New Zealand with their team.

England team has been asked not to speak untill internal investigation. Players could be asked to return to NZ if Police probe proceeds.

Rugby: New Zealand Wins Inaugural U-20 Rugby World Cup

New Zealand U-20 won the International Rugby Board's junior U-20 world championship, crushing England 38-3, in Swansea, Wales.

New Zealand was so dominating in the finals that they scored four tries to none.

New Zealand opened scoring with a penalty goal from fullback Trent Renata in the fifth minute of the game.

The All Blacks extended their lead in the 17th minute when Kade Poki edged past English defence to score the first try, which Nasi Manu converted to give 10-0 lead. England opened their scoring with a penalty in the 25th minute. New Zealand scored from another penalty before the break to give them a 13-3 lead at halftime.

The result was put beyond England in the 56th minute when centre Jackson Willison scored a try for New Zealand.

England could not make anything from one man advantage as New Zealand were left a player down after replacement Aaron Smith was sinbinned for killing the ball. Things became worse for England, when theylost a man of their own. Flanker Calum Clark was sent off for a head butt.

Andre Taylor, scored a try in the 75th minute, team's third and Ryan Crotty in the final minute, to score his team's fourth try.

Rugby: Dominant New Zealand Blew England 44-12

Four members of the England's team were alleged with sexual assualtment..and that did it all. England lacked the firepower to match the All Blacks.

Daniel Carter produced a all-round game to help New Zealand thrash England 44-12 at Lancaster Park. Carter slotted 3 penalties and 4 conversions for a personal tally of 22 points.

Ma'a Nonu, Sione Lauaki and Jimmy Cowan also scored 2nd half tries for New Zealand, while Danny Care and Tom Varndell scored for England. Olly Barkley converted Care's try.

New Zealand got a setback when their when their captain Richie McCaw and Ali Williams limped off during the 1st half due to their ankle injuries.

England Rugby Players Deny Alleged NZ Sex Scandal

Four unnamed England rugby players, who are in New Zealand are refusing to be questioned by the New Zealand police about an alleged sexual assault at the weekend.

The police have confirmed that they are investigating an allegation or rape and/or sexual assault, but have not received a formal complaint from the alleged victim.

Media reports claim the boyfriend of an 18-year-old girl has complained that two players had sex with her at their hotel in Auckland last Sunday morning while two others looked on.

The players are denying that any sexual assault occurred and are refusing a request to voluntarily be interviewed by the police.

New Zealand detectives were today meeting a high-powered band of red-rose officials in an effort to secure interviews with the so-called “Auckland Four” - a quartet of players accused of an unspecified offence of sexual misconduct in the aftermath of last weekend's heavy defeat by the All Blacks in the Eden Park Test.

The England management delegation, which included the Rugby Football Union's chief executive Francis Baron and the travelling lawyer Richard Smith QC as well as a hand-picked team of local legal experts, were reluctant to expose the unnamed players to questioning unless and until the travelling members of Auckland's Criminal Investigation Bureau gave firm details of the nature of their inquiry.

Content Courtsey: Belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby

Rugby: All Blacks Thrash England 37-20

The All Blacks today defeated England 37-20 and reestablished their lost rein at Eden Park, New Zealand.

But it was a mixed performance as they overcame a slow start to produce a 34-point burst in 25 minutes in the middle stages of the game.

The All Blacks scored 4 tries to 2 to England. Debutant Topsy Ojo were credited with the 2 touchdowns of England. Dan Carter of New Zealand were the hero of the All Blacks with total 22 points from a try, 4 conversions and 3 penalties.

The second and final Test in the series is in Christchurch next Saturday.