Friday 1st January, 2010 by Mark Ogden He said: “You never know, NEW DELHI: Holding candles “Some have come on their own Wayne Rooney the goal difference could be and banners, a group of crick- and it only goes to show how Manchester important come the end of the eters, including four Test play- frustrated the cricketers are in claimed season. United moved to ers from the Capital, led a Delhi. There is no cricket cul- “We’ve also got within two within two points of protest demonstration at the ture and we have become a Manchester point of Chelsea and one leaders Chelsea at Ferozeshah Kotla, which hous- laughing stock all over the the top of table but, United purpose- ahead of Arsenal, so it’s a good night for us. Former Test es the offices of the Delhi and world,” said Azad. perhaps more sig- ly set out to “We’ve got a great chance. I District Cricket Association. “There is an urgent need to nificantly, their Madan Lal, Kirti Azad, Vivek provide the cricketers with a emphatic victory think we kept the momentum boost their goal going for the whole night Razdan and Robin Singh (Jr) clean atmosphere. How have enabled the champi- were the Test players who made things been allowed to drift to ons to reduce the because we realised there was difference it on Wednesday even though such an extent? The image of Londoners’ goal dif- an opportunity to get more many had promised to join the DDCA is at its lowest,” added ference advantage against Wigan goals.” Wigan manager Martinez players lead crusade against corruption in Madan. to just two goals. after inspiring Rooney opened lambasted his players for their the DDCA. Raghuvir Saini, a veteran the scoring for the champions performance, but refused to The protest was against the first-class cricketer, was among United with his 15th criticise winger Charles DDCA’s failure to run cricket those who gathered on a cold goal of the season to a 5-0 victory N’Zogbia for walking straight affairs efficiently. “Also against evening. “Nothing has in all competitions over Roberto down the tunnel after being nepotism and corruption,” said changed,” said the former wick- and he admits that, substituted in the second-half. Madan Lal. etkeeper even as word came in Martinez said: “It was the protest “The latest episode ending in that Bishan Singh Bedi was with Wigan Athletic Martinez’s team suffering a number heat of the moment and it was the India-Sri Lanka one-day stuck in a traffic mess and of heavy defeats at Old Trafford. the wrong reaction, but you match being abandoned has would not be able to make it to away from home, once again brought the crick- the Kotla. Sir Alex eters together and put the The protest against DDCA Ferguson’s team DDCA in a ‘tight spot’,” Azad was to continue on Thursday viewed the fixture against DDCA observed. with some more players promis- as an opportunity A few club cricketers were ing to join the “crusade.” to hit the goal also asked to join this protest. (The Hindu) trail. Rooney said: “We went into the game knowing that we were seven goals behind Chelsea and we wanted to close the gap. want your “So scoring five Man United set out to players to be goals has taken us a hurt after a lot closer and we perform- are pleased with ance like that. boost goal that, so I “We hit the post don’t have a and the bar, but we problem scored five goals as with it. I a team, so it is great would disap- difference, says Rooney pointed if that we are scoring goals again. they weren’t “Five goals against any team is quite hurt. rare nowadays, so we have to be “We made it very easy for United pleased. and I am extremely disappointed “It’s really close at the top and with our performance. We Arsenal are up there too, so this is showed too many of the a great result for us.” weaknesses we have Rooney admits he is now shown all season. determined to beat his career- “It was a group of indi- Rolled seat covers are seen lying on the ground after spectators threw them in protest after the fifth and final one-day international crick- best haul, set in 2006-07, of 23 viduals trying to do their et match between India and Sri Lanka was abandoned at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009. A dan- own show. They were selfish goals in a campaign. gerous pitch caused the match to be abandoned. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) He said: “I hope I can do it. If I and naive." don’t score eight goals between (C) The Telegraph now and the end of the season, Group, London, 2009 something is seriously wrong!” United manager Ferguson, who celebrates Drug test row his 68th birthday on Nadal to start 2010 in Thursday, insisted that the emphatic nature of worse shape escalates as his team’s victory could prove crucial Spain’s world No 2 Rafael each tournament,” he added. Pacquiao sues at the end of the Nadal, whose injuries have Nadal, whose Australian season. raised fears over his long-term Open title gave him a sixth future, says he will start the Grand Slam trophy, was the Mayweather Jr 2010 tennis season in “a little spearhead of Spain’s tri- bit” worse shape than he did umphant Davis Cup side which Manny Pacquiao is suing last season. crushed a poor Czech Floyd Mayweather Jr after “I believe that this year I’ll Republic 5-0 in the final. he claimed the boxer and OPPORTUNITY arrive a little bit more on the But the 23-year-old was others defamed him by short side than at the start of falsely alleging that he has KNOCKS: plagued by knee and stomach last season,” he said in a inter- used performance-enhanc- Michael injuries during 2009. He need- Manchester United's Wayne view with Spanish sports daily ing drugs. Carberry Rooney reacts after scoring AS, adding his preparation ed a three-month break in mid- The suit filed in federal has been season to recover from the ten- against Wigan during their “has been short but good”. court in Las Vegas further given an dinitis which wrecked his complicates efforts to reach English Premier League soccer “The results will be what England they are but right now my hope French Open and Wimbledon an agreement for a proposed match at Old Trafford Stadium, is to win everything. Because hopes and, tellingly, the last of 13 March fight between the call-up. two boxers. Manchester, England, that’s impossible you have to his five titles in 2009 came on The Filipino fighter says Wednesday Dec. 30, 2009. the Barcelona clay in April. try to do what is possible in he wants $75,000 (£45,000) (AP Photo/Jon Super) and names Mayweather, his Carberry called up father, Floyd Sr, and uncle Roger Mayweather as defen- as cover for Strauss salutes Under-19 Cricket dants. Also named are Oscar De La Hoya and Collingwood Swann’s Richard Schaefer, who oper- ate Golden Boy Promotions ‘massive impact’ Bandara, Wasantha and are promoting by Telegraph staff and agencies Mayweather. England have called up Hampshire by Simon Briggs The legal action comes as last-ditch talks are still batsman Michael Carberry as cover for ongoing to salvage the fight, Paul Collingwood for the third Test fter England’s efficient mop- impress in Lumbini win ping-up operation on the final which has been derailed by against South Africa in Cape Town. Amorning against South by Reemus Fernando Jayasuriya 3/22, Pradeep K. Gamage 2/20) demands from Collingwood dislocated his left index Africa, Andrew Strauss was able to Wasantha 5/70) Mayweather's camp for ran- finger on the fourth morning of the sec- salute “the most emphatic overseas Paceman and captain Janindu double helps dom blood testing of the two ond Test, which ended with an innings- Gurukula win as Moratu Vidyalaya fighters. There was no win I can remember” in his five-and- Sanjaya Bandara with a six and-98-run victory for England on wicket haul and leg spinner Nivanka bags 11 All rounder Janindu response from a-half years as a Test cricketer. Wednesday. This really is virgin territory for Pradeep Wasantha with a five Off spinner Sheshan Devinda came up with a good Mayweather's camp last X-rays revealed Collingwood had bro- an England captain abroad: every- wicket haul impressed for Nivanka took a match bag of double of four wickets and a night to Pacquiao's suit. one has made runs or taken wickets, Lumbini College, as they 11 wickets for Gurukula half century for Moratu (The Guardian) ken no bones, and England are optimistic there appear to be no serious recorded a 44 run victory over College, Kelaniya who record- Vidyalaya to record a first that he will still be fit to take part at injuries disrupting the camp, and St. Aloysius’ College, Galle in ed an eight wicket victory innings victory over Royal Newlands in the next Test of the four- one of the world’s leading Test their Inter School Under-19 over Vidyartha College, Kandy College, Panadura in their match series, starting on Jan 3. teams has been knocked firmly off match which ended at Colts in their Inter School Under-19 Inter School Under-19 match Collingwood made 91 in England's 574 its perch.