France’s Bruce Grannec, 22, beat more than 530 000 online gamers from 52 different countries in EA Sports FIFA 09 of PlayStation 3 to be crowned the champion of FIFA Interactive World Cup 2009 Grand Final which was held at Barcelona, Spain, last weekend.

The online soccer champion walked away with a brand new Kia Soul, US$20 000 and and invitation to FIFA World Player Gala 2010.
After seven months of qualification with over 500,000 players having competed in the online qualification and with 19 live qualifier events having been held at locations around the globe, including New Zealand, South Africa, Denmark, …read more

Thanks be to the forces that be! The first ODI between India and Australia was called off due to rain. I don’t think India would have reached 307 in anyway — given their history in chasing.
But I am writing this post to actually give you a glimpse of the grand welcome Dhoni and Boys received in Mumbai.

So, as I had been howling at the forums, it’s gonna be an Indo-Pak grand finale. No one believed me. “India’s chances are slim, boy.” “They can’t get past the Aussies.” “Heck, NZ might just kick Pak out, then?”
Everything, so far, has happened as I had wanted it to.
So, while I “bhangra” like Bhajji, you can go read JC’s match account if you missed the action.

This week two players have made it to the Friday Special feature.
Yuvraj Singh
The six straight sixes he hit has sealed his name in the Indian cricket history. And he can also keep the fastest fifty record to himself for a while.

Brett Lee
Wow, Brett “Brute” Lee is back. I think we need to give him kudos for the superb hat-trick, which also happens to be the first in Twenty20 Cricket, against Bangladesh. Remember, he also has a ODI hat-trick to his name.
Watch it here:

Injuries, injuries, injuries. It’s been a hot topic for ages now as huge amounts of people give their reasoning as to why there’s been an apparent increase in the frequency of serious injuries in International cricket. And now they will affect the World Cup, as key teams have players out with injury:
Australia: Matthew Hayden (toe), Andrew Symonds (bycep)
Pakistan: Abdul Razzaq (knee), Mohammad Asif (Elbow), Shoaib Akhtar (Knee)
New Zealand: Jacob Oram (finger)
England: Micheal Vaughan (everything)
to name but a few, with the likelihood that the World Cup will take down some more big names during its tenure. If the World Cup meanders …read more

Jacob Oram has said he would happily amputate his broken finger if it means he would be able to play in the World Cup. Oram broke his ring finger whilst dropping a catch against Australia in the Chappel-Hadlee series in New Zealand.

Now, call me cynical, but surely amputating part of your body is not the best physical preparation for a World Cup? I don’t think it’s a simple case of “lop it off, couple of paracetamol, back to hitting sixes”. I think he’s underestimating how important all his little pinkies are to the control of a cricket bat.

“If it means …read more