Fullfilled my Dream: Yuvaraj

Ahmedabad, March 25 (AFP): Yuvraj Singh said he'd fulfilled a dream after his man-of-the-match-winning 57 not out saw India beat champions Australia by five wickets in the World Cup quarter-finals.

India, chasing 261 for victory, were faltering badly at 187 for five when skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was out.

But Yuvraj and fellow left-hander Suresh Raina (34 not out) delighted frenzied fans in a 42,000 capacity Sardar Patel Stadium crowd with an unbroken stand of 74 that saw the co-hosts triumph.

The victory sets up a semi-final with arch-rivals Pakistan in Mohali on March 30.

Yuvraj, who joked it was the first time he had been applauded at a press conference, was asked if everything he was touching was now turning to gold.

"I think so. Last year, whatever I was doing was turning into mud," he said.

"I have been thinking about beating Australia in this World Cup for one year, that I would be there till the end and winning the game for India."

"I honestly thought about this 365 days of the year. I have been dreaming of this. Probably because Australia are three-time (successive) champions," explained Yuvraj.

The 29-year-old's fourth 50 in six innings, also including a hundred, took his average at this World Cup to an astonishing 113.66.

It also represented a remarkable turnaround after he'd not that long ago found himself out of the side, struggling for fitness and runs.

"This is a moment we live for," added Yuvraj, who mysteriously said he was playing this tournament for a "special person".

But he would only reveal the identity if India, bidding for a second World Cup title to add to their 1983 triumph, made it to the final.

In order to do that they must first beat arch-rivals Pakistan, who thrashed the West Indies by 10 wickets in their last eight clash in Dhaka on Wednesday.

Yuvraj, who also took two for 44 with his left-arm spin against Australia, said that would be another "dream game" for India.

However, asked about the tactics for that match, he joked: "I'm sure whatever plans we have for Pakistan, MS (Dhoni) will tell you at the next press conference."

"We are just doing the best we can."

Trouble for Cricket Australia over Big Ben Ashes advertisement

 London, Oct 29 (IANS) Cricket Australia's (CA) provocative Ashes advertisement, 'Don't forget to pack the urn', featuring holographic images of Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke on the historic Big Ben, has backfired as the Westminster city council has threatened legal action.

'The Palace of Westminster is part of a Unesco world heritage site, and it's both inappropriate and insulting for this important location and its buildings to effectively be abused in this manner. It's also a criminal offence,' Westminster city council's deputy leader, councillor Robert Davis was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

'If an organisation wishes to display advertising on it, or any other building in Westminster for that matter, they should apply through the normal channels like any right-minded person with respect for the law. Although we've not prosecuted previously as such stunts are usually over quickly, we do feel now that enough is enough and we're considering legal action,' Davis said.

'We also fear that without taking a firm stance this style of guerrilla advertising will only increase, particularly in the run-up to (the London Olympics in) 2012,' he said.

Metropolitan Police also admitted that breach has been committed and they are investigating the matter.

Buzz Up Australia readies Big Bash T20 league to rival IPL

 SYDNEY (Reuters) - Cricket Australia (CA) approved an IPL-style league on Friday but conceded the eight-team event would not be able to rival the financial gloss of the Indian Twenty20 tournament.

After the board meeting in Melbourne, chief executive officer James Sutherland said CA were "amenable" to private ownership in the expanded Big Bash League from 2011-12 season but finalising the terms would take more time.

"The Board has considered the position of private investment into these teams and taken a view that the board is amenable to that situation," Sutherland told reporters.

"It will, over the coming months, consider the terms under which that private investment may take place but the Board is certainly open to that."

Local media reports claimed Indian companies were eyeing minority stakes in some of the teams, while Sutherland said the new league would not vie with the glitzy $4 billion IPL.

"I don't think we see ourselves as a competitor to the IPL (in terms of player earnings) and certainly the revenues that the Cricket Australia Big Bash League can generate," he said.

"In a small market such as Australia it's not going to be the same as the Indian Premier League. But at the same time this league is on the international stage and the teams that play-off in the finals will qualify for the Champions League."

The CA official envisages the league, to be played over a 5-6 week period in December and January, to be a 10-team affair by the next five years but ruled out any threat to the traditional Boxing Day (Dec. 26) test.

Strauss excited by Ashes challenge

Andrew Strauss is ready to deal with the pressure of expectation as England prepare to depart for Australia with their best chance of winning down under in more than 20 years. The pre-Ashes hype is well underway on both sides of the world although Strauss doesn't feel the need to be drawn into any slanging matches before the action gets underway. 

England haven't won in Australia since 1986-87 but on the back of a successful 18 months which has seen the team win the Ashes at home, draw in South Africa and beat Pakistan 3-1 there is a feeling that the squad has the ability to turn over the hosts who have lost their last three Tests and slipped below England in the rankings. Victory in Australia would cement Strauss's position as one of his country's finest captains, but he is putting individual thoughts to one side.

"I think we all feel a slight burden of responsibility but that's mixed in with a huge amount of pride in representing our country in what is a massive series," Strauss said. "From my own point of view I'm relaxed but excited about our prospects. Those of us on the last tour know what a tough place it is to tour but we also know what an amazing thing it would be to win out there. I think we have a great chance. The only time the 5-0 result will be wiped out is if we go out and win this time. That's our challenge."

There is unlikely to be any shortage of mentions of what happened four years ago when England arrived holding the Ashes before being thrashed by a rampant home side, but already there are differences from that tour. The squad is settled and the ECB have gone to great lengths to lay on the ideal preparation with a month-long lead-in period before the first Test including three first-class matches.

"We've had a lot of success over the last 18 months so confidence levels are very high," Strauss said. "Our preparation has been very good and so there's a feeling of relaxed excitement of what lies ahead. We have an excellent chance of winning out there, we are a nice tight unit and know what to expect.

"We've left no stone unturned in making sure that we hit the ground running. Ultimately preparation only takes you so far and you have to front up in the crucial sessions but I have every confidence our players will be able to do that."

Strauss also attempted to put to bed talk about injuries sustained during the team's bonding camp in Germany. James Anderson returned with a cracked rib and it also emerged that Chris Tremlett suffered bruising, but both are not causing the captain any concern. "Chris is 100% fit. I think he had a tiny niggle but it hasn't affected his preparation at all," he said. "Jimmy Anderson is coming on well and we fully expect our squad to be 100% fit by the first Test."

Ruthless India demolish Australia

Bangalore: Debutant Cheteshwar Pujara proved an unlikely hero as India thrashed Australia by seven wickets in the second and final Test on Wednesday to sweep the series 2-0. Pujara hit a fluent 72 as the hosts, set 207 runs to win on a wearing wicket, cruised home soon after tea on the fifth and final day at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore.

Veteran Sachin Tendulkar, who hit a double-century in the first innings, remained unbeaten on 53 as India enhanced their reputation as the world's number one Test side.

Ricky Ponting's Australia, preparing for next month's start of the Ashes series at home against England, slipped to fifth place behind India, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the Englishmen.

India followed their dramatic one-wicket win in the first Test in Mohali last week to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in front of some 20,000 jubilant home fans.

Tendulkar stamped India's superiority by smashing off-spinner Nathan Hauritz for two consecutive sixes just before the tea interval. The world batting record holder was named both the man of the match and the player of the series for notching up 403 runs in four innings at an average of 134.33.

"I don't count. Let the others count. I just want to continue scoring," Tendulkar, 37, said when asked about his awesome record this year in which he has already hit six centuries.

"This series was a fantastic one for the entire team. Pujara showed tremendous character and his partnership with Murali Vijay was very crucial one."

Pujara and Vijay put on 72 for the second wicket to revive India after the accomplished Virender Sehwag was dismissed in the third over for seven. Sehwag edged Ben Hilfenhaus to wicket-keeper Tim Paine, one delivery after hitting a four to the point boundary.

Pujara, who was promoted to number three in place of Rahul Dravid, then added 57 for the third wicket with Tendulkar before he was bowled by Hauritz. The 22-year-old, awarded a Test cap only because Venkatsai Laxman was injured, hit seven boundaries during his two-hour stint at the crease.

A disappointed Ponting admitted his team were outplayed by the hosts. "We have played reasonably good Test cricket in the series, but we were outplayed," the Australian captain said.

"We needed to get a few early wickets today, we got one, but Pujara and Vijay batted well. The crowd here have been fantastic. We would like to thank the crowd for their love and support for Test cricket."

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni also paid tribute to the large number of fans who turned up for the match on all five days. But Dhoni rued his bad luck with the toss which he has lost nine times in succession in Test matches.

"As a captain I keep losing tosses which means the bowlers have to come in and bowl on flat tracks," he said. "But they have bowled really well. In both games, the first innings was high scoring and it changed in the second innings. In India you can lose a Test in two sessions. You need to play well on all the five days."

Australia, starting the day with a lead of 185 runs with three wickets in hand, were earlier all out for 223 in their second innings an hour into the morning session.

Zaheer Khan and left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha finished with three wickets each, while Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and off-spinner Harbhajan SinghAustralia will now play a three-match One-day series starting in Kochi on October 17. claimed two each. India and

Murali bids farewell to Australia

It was the scene of the lowest point of his career, but Sri Lankan star Muttiah Muralitharan said his one regret about playing cricket in Australia was that he did not perform better at Test level.

Muralitharan, and fellow veteran Sanath Jasuriya, bid farewell to Australia as international cricketers in Friday's tri-series clash with the home side at the MCG.

The Australian team formed a guard of honour for each player as they came out to bat and although the match carried little weight, with Sri Lanka missing the finals, Muralitharan and Jayasuriya went out on a winning note, the tourists recording a remarkable 13-run victory.

Both veterans played key roles in the result, Muralitharan bowling superbly and picking up two crucial wickets, while Jayasuriya secured the win when he bowled Brett Lee with his first ball when brought on in the 49th over.

Muralitharan, 35, said he bore no grudges against Australian cricket, despite being called for throwing in Melbourne in the 1995 Boxing Day Test and also later in Adelaide.

However, he said he would always regret not performing with more distinction in Australia in Test cricket.

"Sometime there were ups and downs in Australia, but still I enjoyed my cricket here," he said here after Friday's game.

"The Boxing Day was most memorable time for me, it was hard.

"I got over it, but still I want to play after that in Australia.

"So I tried to perform, but the only country I couldn't really perform in Tests was Australia.

"I played only five Tests and my average was not good enough, but in one-dayers I did really well in the Australia.

"But that disappointment will be there forever."

Muralitharan has taken 723 Test wickets, but managed just 12 wickets in five Tests in Australia at 72.41.

He was appreciative of the Australians recognising him and Jayasuriya.

"It's going to be the last tour for me, I won't be able to come any more to Australia, so it was a good honour," he said.

"We have been involved in the game for the last 17 years, Sanath for almost 20 years."

The 38-year-old Jayasuriya, who struggled to have his usual impact with the bat in the tri-series, said he would have fond memories of Australia.

"This is my last tour to Australia and I've enjoyed my cricket in Australia," he said.

"I'm disappointed only that we couldn't make the finals."

Despite a generally poor series, Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene was pleased his side finished the tour with a win.

"It has been a disappointing tournament, but the way we finished today showed a lot of character and we can take a lot of positives out of this game," he said.

"We had a lot of opportunities but we didn't take those opportunities and we can learn from that."