Zinedine Zidane Headbutt Statue Erected Outside Paris museum

Football News: A 5-meter (16.4 feet) high version of Algerian artist Adel Abdessemed's bronze statue of Zinedine Zidane headbutting Marco Materazzi in the World Cup 2006 final has been erected outside Paris' Centre Pompidou, it is one of the world's foremost modern art museums.

A smaller version of the statue had previously been on exhibition in a New York gallery and now it is massive and out in the open for all to admire. 04 more images after the break.

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Indian Sports Minister praises hockey team for good show

New Delhi: Indian men hockey team’s goal run at the hockey Olympics qualifiers sustained on Sunday prompting Sports Minister, Ajay Maken to cheer the team for their show.

Praising the team, he said that the performances are an sign that the arrangements are on right track towards achieving the dream of an Olympic medal this year.

“Well done to Indian Hockey team! Thrash Italy 8-1. Beat Singapore yesterday 15-1. Great opening towards London Medal dreams.” he posted on a micro blogging website on Sunday.

India thrashed Italy 8-1 to record their second win of the Olympic qualifying tournament on Sunday.

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Sachin Tendulkar short of 100th ton in Melbourne Test

First Test, Melbourne (day two):

Australia 333 v India 214-3

Sachin Tendulkar is still looking for a historic 100th international century after being dismissed 27 runs short on the second day of the first Test against Australia in Melbourne.

The India batsman was bowled by Peter Siddle in the final over of the day.

Rahul Dravid was 68* as the tourists closed on 214-3 in answer to Australia's first innings 333.

The 38 year old Tendulkar, who hit 73 from 98 balls, has been stuck on 99 hundreds since March.

Sachin and Dravid, the two greatest Test run scorers of all time, put on 117 for the third wicket their 20th century partnership.

Tendulkar treated the 52,858 strong crowd to a batting master class with top score stroke play which delivered some perfectly-executed boundaries.

The 'Little Master' saw off eight balls in a worried period before tea, following Virender Sehwag's dismissal for 67 in the penultimate over of the afternoon session.

Tendulkar hit eight fours to go with his six, and reached his 64th Test half century with a single off Nathan Lyon that shaped one of the loudest cheers of the day from a Melbourne crowd featuring a healthy portion of Indian supporters.

But Tendulkar's wicket would have served as a honest consolation for Siddle, who bowled a ripping spell at the end of the day which yielded 1-7 from four overs.

Credible Upholstery

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Indian players did not get time to relax after World Cup

Indian players did not get time to relax and enjoy after World Cup, says Kapil Dev

Former Indian captain, Kapil Dev, has lashed out at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for not giving the Men in Blue sufficient time to rest on their World Cup 2011 laurels and forcing them to play the long Indian premier League (IPL) tournament, claiming that this let them down against England.

He speaks out that Mahendra Singh Dhoni and company should have full proper rest after the long fight for the second World Cup title instead of participating in the IPL-4. He believes that overdose of cricket broke the players’ fitness and stamina, resultantly, they moved from explosion to fate in no time.

The ex-captain affirmed that Team India played against the Poms without passion, which they had already lost by playing too much cricket at home.

“If you don't give time to unwind, you lose the obsession to play. That is what happened in England (Team lost Test series 4-0 to the hosts). They went through the motions and there was no passion which is very significant when you play sports.

Following the tormenting IPL, the Blue Shirts flew to West Indies for a mutual series, and without taking any rest, moved to England for a high profile challenge.

The result of this cricket hunger came out in the form of India’s demotion from their hard earned No 1 spot in International Test rankings.

Dev wants these mistakes not to be frequent again. The legendry cricketer represented his nationalized team in 131 Test and 225 ODIs along with bringing home the first World Cup title in 1983.

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Australia will recover their No. 1 rank in Test cricket: Lee

Hyderabad: Having achieved the pole situation in ODIs, Australia would soon get back its past glory by becoming the No. 1 team in Test cricket as well, feels speedster Brett Lee.

"We won ODI series in Sri Lanka. We are 1-0 up in test series now. We are enjoying being the No. 1 in ODIs and confidently we will get back our No. 1 rank in Test cricket," Lee told the media people.

He said he does not lament not playing in Tests anymore and he feels it was a alert decision.

"No regrets in not playing Test cricket. There is zero chance of returning to Test cricket.

He said he is enjoying the Twenty 20 cricket which is full of enthusiasm and surprises. Asked what is the biggest challenge he is facing, he answered,” I love every single day playing cricket. I do not put force on me. That is the reason, I am happy, I am happy, I am smiling."

Asked whether he was surprised with India's poor demonstrate in the England tour, he said situation were a big factor.

"The England team took home gain to the fullest." Replying to a query on the problems like injuries faced by Indian seamers in England tour, he said injuries are a part and bundle of playing cricket.

"It depends on a few effects. When you are playing Test cricket, injuries do go on. That is part of playing cricket unfortunately," he said.

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